ENDING THE MILITANT CRISIS IN THE NIGER DELTA: THE WAY FORWARD
The Niger Delta conflict is one created and exacerbated by the oil and natural gas riches of the region. Great hydrocarbon wealth has been extracted over the past decades, yet Niger Delta residents continue to live in underdeveloped and polluted circumstances. This situation has fueled widespread, and often violent, conflict within the region. While the Nigerian government has made attempts to resolve the conflict, most recently with the 2009 amnesty program, these attempts have repeatedly failed. This paper will discuss these failures, as well as present a set of initiatives for the Niger Delta that, together, represent a possible path for regional rejuvenation, and sustainable development.
Keywords: Niger Delta, Amnesty Program, Conflict, underdevelopment, violence.