THE STATE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA: AN EXAMINATION OF THE AMNESTY PROGRAMME FOR MILITANTS IN THE NIGER-DELTA
THE STATE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA: AN EXAMINATION OF THE AMNESTY PROGRAMME FOR MILITANTS IN THE NIGER-DELTA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015-08
Authors
MAINA, Williams Apikins
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
study was an examination of the Amnesty Programme proclaimed for militants in the Niger-Delta by the President Musa Yar‟Adua‟s administration in 2009, within the context of the role of the Nigerian State in the management and resolution of the conflicts.This was against the backdrop of the protracted conflicts that engulfed the region. At the peak of the conflicts, there were frequent attacks and vandalizations of oil and gas pipelines and installations, and the rampant abductions of expartriates by militant groups spread over five hundred camps in the creeks of the Niger-Delta. The Conflict Resolution Theory was adopted as a theoretical framework for analysis for this research because it provided the most comprehensive methods and styles in the management of conflict, termination of conflict, mitigation of conflict resolution of conflicts, transformation of conflicts and peace building(Burton,1991).The research methodology used for this study is the Quantitative and Qualitatve methods, it involved the use of two sources of data viz: the primary and secondary sources.Thus,relevant library materials,questionnaires, oral interviews and focus group discussions provided immense insights on the data required. The multi-stage and cluster sampling techniques as well as the systematic random sampling were used.This approach allows for the division of larger clusters into smaller clusters until the Sample population is reached. Hence, from the nine Niger-Delta States, three States were picked (Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers) using the simple random sampling method. The total population for the area studied was31,224,577 people (NPC,2006) within a geographical space of 112,110 square kilometers (NDRDMP,2006). A sample size of1,111 was drawn, using the Yamane‟s established table for the determination of Sample sizes (Yamane,1967).The data generated were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics that involved the use of tables, figures, percentages and frequency distributions.Major findings of the study revealed that the Amnesty Programme proclaimed for militants in the Niger-Delta was to stop the carnage perpetrated by the militants and to usher in peace, progress and development in the region.This facilitated the full resumption of commercial activities in oil and gas sectors,and assisted the Government to make more money for the implementation of developmental projects earmarked for the Niger-Delta in particular, and the entire country in general. Another finding was that the Amnesty Programme was a viable model for conflict management and resolution that can be adapted in other conflict situations like that of the Boko-Haram terrorists, if its leaders will genuinegly consent to negotiation and mediation. Recommendations proffered among others includes the utmost need for the Nigerian State to take very pragmatic steps in consolidating the gains of the Amnesty Programme by implementing the Post-Amnesty projects to their logical conclusions in the Niger-Delta to ensure that the root causes of the problems which were the drivers of the conflicts are adequately addressed.This will no doubt entrench durable peace in the Niger-Delta.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES,
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA.
Keywords
STATE,, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT,, NIGERIA, EXAMINATION,, AMNESTY PROGRAMME,, MILITANTS,, NIGER-DELTA