Beyond amnesty: Rethinking government's stabilisation efforts in Nigeria's Niger delta region

In 2009, President Umaru Yar'Adua granted amnesty to militant groups in the Niger Delta. This came after a decade of insurgency within Nigeria's oil-rich region. Amnesty was strategically designed to deescalate further confrontation with militants, curb the proliferation of small arms, stop kidnapping and limit the destruction of oil and gas installations. Amnesty was also aimed at disarming, demobilising and re-integration militants into civil society. To what extent has amnesty shaped the region and of what consequence? This study examined the multi-layered drivers of crisis within the Niger-Delta. It then investigated the appropriateness of amnesty in the region using semi-structured interviews. As its main finding, deplorable conditions that sparked unrest in the region still persist, evoking growing discontent in several communities. The paper recommends sustainable policies and programs through which communities, oil companies and the region at large can benefit immensely.

Automated summary

In 2009, President Umaru Yar'Adua granted amnesty to militant groups in the Niger Delta to deescalate violence and address the region's issues. However, the study shows that the underlying problems persist and there is growing discontent in the communities.