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PSAKUIJIR

Vol. 4 No. 2 (July-December 2015)

Policy Change and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria:


A Case Study of the Niger Delta Region
Bright Onyekachi Egwim*

Abstract
The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has experienced environmental degradation,
marginalization and human rights violation that are consequent upon bad policies that led to
conflict in the region. However, the significance of policy change came into limelight in
October, 2009, when the amnesty bill that gave unconditional pardon to militants who fought
against the Nigerian government was issued. The policy change restored peace to the region.
As a result, this documentary research aims at analyzing the impact of policy change in
resolving conflict and building peace. Also, it will serve as a principle for achieving peace,
and a framework or guideline for further research with respect to the significant impact
respect for human rights plays in peacebuilding.
Specifically, it answers questions on why the Nigerian government did change its
policy to favor Niger Deltas development. In addition to that, it provides answers to question
about the role policy change played in restoring peace to the region. However, an in-depth;
face-to-face interview (qualitative research method) is carried out with four key informants,
hence, the outcome of the interview complemented by documentary research reveals that the
key drivers to the conflict is total neglect to the peoples yearning over the environment al
pollution and degradation, marginalization and human rights violation caused by the multinational oil companies through careless oil drilling executed under the on-shore and off- shore
dichotomy policy implemented by the former administration.
However, the unrelenting effort of the Niger Deltans in a continuous fight for the
management of the oil resources themselves resulted in the change of policy that led to the
signing of the amnesty bill. Although, the amnesty bill restored peace to the region, the
government is yet to fulfill all its promises over the oil resource control.
Keyword: Policy, Conflict, Peace in Nigeria, Human Rights, Amnesty

Introduction
"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.... No one
shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.... Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the
health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social services.... Everyone is entitled
to a social and international order in which ... rights and freedoms ... can be
fully realized." --UN, 1945.
As good as it is, respect for the right to life, liberty and security of persons depends on
the preeminent policy that will ensure such rights. As a result, policy making has become
nominal to every government as it defines the weakness or effectiveness of d ifferent
governments at different times and places. However, the quality of such policies is relatively
*

Master Student, Graduate School of Arts in Peace Studies and Diplomacy, Siam University ; E-mail:
brightest4chi@yahoo.co.uk

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defined by its varied impact depending on how it positively or negatively affects the public
who needlessly have to live under such policies. This thus, creates the demand for policy
change. These demands in most cases escalate into disputes, conflicts and crisis when the
government refuses to listen to yearnings of its people. In response to this demand for policy
change, governments need to adhere to the needs of its citizens to make policies that are
people inclusive in order to achieve peace.
It is noted that the Nigerian government does not pay significant attention to the Niger
Delta regions environmental degradation caused by oil and gas exploratio n (Coarse, 1990:12; Ikein, 1990). This is because its policy does not give relevance to that. Consequently, the
natives of the region have kept agitating for a policy change. This has escalated to violence
resulting in kidnappings, arms proliferation and killings.
The governments refusal to yield to their demands fuelled violence coupled with
tensions between the foreign oil corporations and a number of the Niger Delta's minority
ethnic groups who felt that they were being exploited, particularly the Ogoni as well as the
Ijaw in the late 1990s. Ethnic and political unrest broke out and continued throughout the
1990s and persists through 2007 despite the conversion to democracy and the election of the
Obasanjo government in 1999. Competition for oil wealth fueled violence between
innumerable ethnic groups, causing the militarization of nearly the entire region by ethnic
militia groups as well as Nigerian military and police forces (notably the Nigerian Mobile
Police).
However, after the submission of President Yaraduas constituted Niger Delta
Technical Committees Report, on June 26, 2009, the Nigerian Government announced that it
would grant Amnesty and an unconditional pardon to Militants in the Niger Delta which
would last for 60 days beginning on 6 August, 2009 and ending 4 October 2009. Former
Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua signed the amnesty bill after consultation with the
National Council of State. During the 60 day period, armed youths were required to surrender
their weapons to the Government in return for training and rehabilitation by the government.
During the 60 day period, militants led their groups to surrender weapons which includes;
Rocket-propelled grenades, guns, explosives, ammunition and even gunboats have all been
surrendered to the government. Below is the time frame for the Niger Delta crisis in Nigeria.
1957-1991 = Oil exploration, empty promises, land ownership transfer from citizens
to government, environmental, social, and economic apparatus rapidly deteriorating.
1992-1993 = The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) was
formed. Its primary targets; the Nigerian government and Royal Dutch Shell. The conflict
between Ogonis and the oil infrastructure escalated to a level of greater seriousness and
intensity on both sides. Both parties began carrying out acts of violence; the government
banned public gatherings and declaring that disturbances of oil production were acts of
treason. Oil extraction from the territory reduced.
1994-2008 = Governments repression, acquisition of warships by militants, more
pressure and fights, kidnapping and killings, military crackdown, formation of the NDDC,
and the Niger Delta Development Commission
2009-Date = Amnesty, surrender of weapon in exchange for training, peace and
development
Objectives
1. To analyze policy change and conflict resolution thereby, building peace
2. To highlight the significant impact human rights plays in peacebuilding process.
3. To add to the body of knowledge, serve as a principle for achieving peace, and a
framework or guideline for further research.

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Method
The study and pattern for policy change and conflict resolution in Nigeria: a case
study of the Niger Delta takes the form of a social research that is often conducted in
situations that do not permit the kinds of probability samples used in large-scale social
surveys so, this is one of such. Thus, a nonprobability (purposive) sampling is used in
conducting this research. This is because this study focuses on a subset of a larger population
in which many members of the subset are easily identified but the enumeration of them all
would be nearly impossible.
Therefore, a survey method (qualitative) is applied for this research study. Also, in the
course of this research, interview is conducted with four interviewees in order to analyze the
key drivers to the conflict in the region, why the policy change that resulted to the grant of
amnesty occur and how it led to peace in the region. However, the criteria for the interview
are as follows: The interviewee should be aware of the Niger Delta crisis and, be
knowledgeable on the significance of policy change in resolving conflicts and achieving
peace in a country.
Also, the nature of the Niger Delta crisis makes it a public gaze. As such, there are
enormous data to collect on this regard. Notwithstanding, the researcher has selected those
that serve the focus of this research through a face to face interview. This is because; the need
to collect an accurate, precise, deeper and clearer picture of the data is of a high priority to
this research interest as it will be used to support findings from this documentary research.
So, this method of data collection can be described as a documentary research because it
undertakes an open approach towards the collection of primary and secondary data. Below is
the name list of key informants for this research work;
1. Mr. Jalo Adamasa Gaiyus: The Consular General, Nigeria Embassy, Bangkok
2. Mr. Egwim Ugochukwu Kingsley: Niger Delta resident, Niger Delta, Nigeria
3. Ifiok Kris Ekanen: The Chief Officer, Nigeria Naval Base, Niger Delta
4. Alanna Hartzok: Director, Earth Rights Institute, Niger Delta

Research findings
This research study investigates policy change and conflict resolution in the Niger
Delta region of Nigeria. According to the director, Earth Right Institute, Alanna Hartzok, the
region is rich in natural resources ranging from crude oil to natural gas to mention a few. So,
this research work also studies the policy that assumedly, resolved the Niger Delta crisis
hence, restoring peace to the region. Furthermore, the findings are synchronized in the key
expected findings for this research. However, the structure for these findings and analysis
will be aligned with the conceptual framework in order to fit into the situation in the Niger
Delta as follows;
Government Policy (Leadership)
Government policy play crucial role on the development of a country or its
underdevelopment. As such, these findings reveal why the Nigerian government did change
its policy to favor Niger Deltas development and the significant role that policy change play
in restoring peace to the region
According to the data analysis, the Niger Delta region suffers from a bad government.
Mr. Jalo Adamasa Gaiyus, Consular General of the Nigerian Embassy, Bangkok viewed that
the Niger Delta people suffer from a selfish, wicked and bad government that neglects the
suffering of the people due to human rights violation, environmental pollution and

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deprivation of their source of living. In his words, this form of marginalization to me is one
of the key drivers of the conflict that led to the formation of militant groups.
In addition, Alanna Hartzok viewed that the discovery of oil and the fact that the oil
profits have not gone to further the development and well-being of the people (that is, the
resource curse of mineral wealth led to impoverishment and environmental degradation.
Thus, the traditional livelihood of the people (fishing for instance) has been harmed because
the delta water has been polluted and abused by the foreign corporations interested in the oil
and yet the government seems willing to give immunity to them. This aggravated tensions
and crisis that amounted to the governments use of force.
Agreeably, the Nigerians are not easy to dialogue with; however, the use of force is
highly disagreed upon. According to Mr. Egwim Kingsley, a Niger Delta resident, as a
matter of fact, the Nigerian Governments use of force in the conflict could not quiet the
crisis because violence has never been a successful means for conflict resolution. In his
view, No, think of it, is it good for someone to come to your house and use force on you to
get something? I seriously disagree with the governments use of force on us.
However, in the attempt to resolve the conflict, the idea for dialogue was
conceptualized which is a modern approach thus, proved successful.
Democratic Patterns
A key factor leading to policy changes is the democratic pattern that encourages
freedom of speech in a countrys system of government. Thus, the relentless effort of the
militants to keep fighting the government until they are heard is one key factor that led to the
policy change. In a related development, Mr. Ifiok Kris Ekanen, Chief Officer, Nigeria Naval
Base, viewed that they refused to allow the multinational oil companies to come close to
their offshore terminals to extract oil. As a result, Nigerias economy was really tampered
with, so that they had no choice than to stop the use of force and offered (the youths) amnesty
while other promises come later.
Furthermore, the Nigerian government felt to stop the use of force because it was not
yielding the much expected result; hence, the need to try another approach (amnesty) used by
other countries in conflict resolution and it worked. In his words, Mr. Jalo Adamasa Gaiyus,
viewed that, someone decided that an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth made everyone
blind and toothless so, the Nigerian government did make an effort to contain the situation
especially when local militants increased the insecurity in the already devastated region.
Amnesty was one way to make the militants give up their weapons and enter into
rehabilitation programs. They did that because the world community is also against the
Nigeria governments treatment of the Niger Deltans.
The amnesty programme brought peace. People were carried along, the grassroots
people were involved. The government gave complete pardon to the militants in exchange for
development and that was the beginning of peace. However, there are still a lot of human
rights wanting in the Niger Delta region, especially, with the rise of local militants. Even
though amnesty was granted, the area is still dangerous with construction workers being
kidnapped as of 2014. Alanna Hartzok, Director, Earth Right Institute viewed that I
wouldnt say that there has been a sustained peace in the region yet even though the conflict
has significantly reduced. Also, Mr. Egwim Ugochukwu Kingsley, viewed that peace is not
yet restored fully because Nigeria is too tricky, if they say that they will build a road for you
and you go sitting to wait for them, you will be later frustrated by that same government that
promised to build your roads. Nigeria government is running out of good leaders, what we
have now are rulers. So the peace can only be restored fully if they will do all they promised.
Examples are resources control, developing the region, and putting the necessary
infrastructure in place, so that Niger Deltans can benefit from their own God blessed region.

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Also, Mr. Jalo Adamasa Gaiyus, Consular General, Nigeria Embassy, Bangkok,
viewed that, a factor leading to policy change is the high rate of unemployment. This is
because a significant number of the Niger Deltans are unemployed graduates. So, if the
number of graduates on the streets is offered job placements, there wouldnt be conflict. In
addition, if programs and developments that enhance human welfare, human rights and
environmental development are implemented in the policies made, the le vel of conflict is
most likely to reduce.
Public Participation
Citizens involvement in policy formation process is important for peace and
development because the policies that are made without the people being involved cause
them to rebel just as we have seen so far. For instance, Mr. Egwim Kingsley viewed that in
Nigeria where their major income accrues from oil revenue, the regions where these oil
wealth are flowing out from were undeveloped, so the people revolt against their country by
fighting for their legal rights, that is when the citizens get involved in policy formation but, if
it is a very good country that love its people, things will be put in place.
Relatively, Alanna Hartzok, Director, Earth Right Institute viewed that, the present
Nigeria government policies are not people oriented. In other words, if public participation is
encouraged, Nigeria would be advanced over the United States. This means that there is the
need to establish a participatory democracy which will contribute to the election of a good
leader of their choice. The new leaders will be the ones who also encourage the people to
lead, and who will listen to the people and enable them to listen to each other, and to work
well together to solve problems.
As stated earlier, there can be no real resolution if the Niger Deltans are not involved
in the peace talks or policy making regarding the wealth in the region. This is because not
only will the Niger Deltans view it as an injustice should they be snubbed from their regiona l
wealth, but it will also be a human right injustice as it is home to the Niger Deltans and not
the rich foreign corporations.
Therefore, the decision of the Nigeria government to dialogue with the Niger Deltans
was one positive step ahead in disarming the militants. According to Mr. Jalo Adamasa
Gaiyus, Consular General, Nigeria Embassy, Bangkok, this step helped considerably as
there was tremendous reduction of illicit arms parade and illegally armed men. This is
because disarming the Militants is a key step in bringing peace to the Niger Delta. However,
changing the mindset of these militants through rehabilitation is much more promising
towards peace. Mr. Egwim Ugochukwu Kingsley, a Niger Delta resident viewed that, it
helped the country Nigeria because without it, it is either there will be no Nigeria or the
whole region would have been on fire.
Furthermore, the amnesty programme brought peace. People were carried along, and
the grassroots people were involved. In a related development, Alanna Har tzok, Director,
Earth Right Institute viewed that, the government gave complete pardon to the militants in
exchange for development and that was the beginning of peace though there are still a lot of
human rights wanting in the Niger Delta region especially with the rise of local militants.
According to Allan, however, participatory democracy and economic democracy are needed
to be clarified as both are two distinct aspects of democracy that facilitated the conflict.
In a distinctive view, Mr. Egwim Ugochukwu Kingsley, a Niger delta resident viewed
that the Nigerian government had to promise the Niger Deltans resource ownership and
revenue distribution in order to ensure peace in the region. Thus, the promise of the regions
resources control, development, and putting the necessary infrastructure in place, so that the
Niger Deltans can benefit from their own God blessed region also, helped restored peace to
the region. In other words, once human welfare, human rights and environmental

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development are implemented in the Nigeria government policies, the level of conflict is
most likely to reduce thus, building a relatively sustained peace.

Conclusion and Recommendation


It is quite obvious that the desire of perhaps all states is security, safety and the
respect of the rights that provide such atmosphere for the sustenance of peace. One of such is
policy change and implementation of such policy or policies. The Nigeria government is not
an exception, the recent Niger Delta oil crisis has crystalized Nigeria governments utter
disrespect for human rights, underdevelopment, negligence and impoverishment of people
who sit on oil wealth with empty stomachs.
While this scenario brought about an aggravated conflict, the Nigeria government
tries to suppress and oppress these people with forceful means regardless of the fact that the
Niger Deltans are the rightful owner of the oil wealth.
However, the 2009 amnesty programme introduced by the then president Umaru
Yaradua brought about relative peace to the region. Although, there was a considerable
peace, findings from this research work shows that if policies that focus on human welfare
and environmental developments are made, there will be less or no conflicts than assumed.
Also, if steady peacebuilding is engaged upo n, it will be needless to engage in violent
confrontations and the use of force. Thus, if the Nigeria government enhances welfare, create
jobs, develop the environment and build structures that facilitate peaceful coexistence, steady
peace will be ensured as the Niger Deltans will be actively engaged in more productive
activities instead of wasting precious time being unproductive. In other words, the use of
force is not the best way to resolve conflict between any parties.
Although the Nigeria government came to realize its mistakes and offered amnesty
which assumedly restored peace to the region, didnt span many years. There have been
recent kidnappings which puts the governments amnesty into critical examination as it
seemed to have served the immediate needs of the Nigeria government at that point in time.
However, if the Nigeria government is really serious about bettering the lives of the Niger
Deltans, there is need for structures, infrastructures and institutions that maintains and
promotes peace in the whole region. This institution should create an avenue where the
people and the government leaders can meet and discuss issues of most concern, problems
and success appraisal. Lastly, the government should confer to each state in Nigeria the right
to control its resources. This will enhance peace as economic democracy is different from
political democracy.

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