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The renewed attacks on oil and power installations by militants in the Niger-Delta will have no effect on Nigerian government’s resolve to engage leaders of the region, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
In a nationwide address marking the Democracy Day his one year in office, Mr. Buhari said his administration will ensure implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme’s recommendation on the clean-up of harmful substance in the delta area.
“On the Niger Delta, we are committed to implementing the United Nations Environment Programme report and are advancing clean-up operations.
“I believe the way forward is to take a sustainable approach to address the issues that affect the delta communities. Re-engineering the amnesty programmes is an example of this. The recent spate of attacks by militants disrupting oil and power installations will not distract us from engaging leaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems,” Mr. Buhari said.
The President said those involved in vandalising installations will be apprehended.
“If the militants and vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaken. We shall apprehend the perpetrators and their sponsors and bring them to justice,” Mr. Buhari said.
Hostilities have recently returned to the oil-rich Niger-Delta, following a few years hiatus engendered by an amnesty program launched by late President Umar Yar’Adua and followed up by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Since February, attacks on oil and power installations have intensified.
This past week, oil and gas facilities belonging to Shell, Chevron, Agip, NNPC and others have been targeted.
A separatist militant group, Niger-Delta Avengers, has claimed responsibility for almost all the attacks.
Peace overtures made by the federal government were rejected by the group, saying only a complete secession of the south-south would suffice.
“The Niger Delta stakeholder’s meeting is an insult to the people of Niger Delta. What we need is a sovereign state not pipeline contracts,” the Avengers posted on its Twitter page May 27.
Analyst reacts
Security analyst, Max Gbanite, welcomed the president’s comments, saying the Avengers must be stopped before it’s too late.
“The president is right to let them know they cannot get away with their criminal activities,” Mr. Gbanite told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview Sunday. “He is right to get them to stop doing so much damage to the nation’s economy.”
He, however, said Mr. Buhari needs to do more to equip the military and other security agencies if the country must succeed in combating the militants.
“The latest threat exposes the capabilities of our military. Previous administrations have not spent the right money to give the military the right equipment they need to carry out their duties. So, it’s now left for the current president to ensure that he provides sufficient tools for all the agencies that need them.”
“The Nigerian Navy does not have the capacity to navigate the entire region. There are close to 8,000 forcados there and it’s very difficult to navigate them. Operation Pulo Shield should have mastered the topography of the whole Niger-Delta–the whole creeks, but they have no capacity to do so,” Mr. Gbanite said.
Mr. Gbanite further stated that the Avengers cannot be compared to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND.
“MEND had faces. They had a spokesman in the person of ‘Jomo Gbomo’ who later became Henry Okah,” Mr. Gbanite said. “The Avengers is a mysterious group that is fighting asymmetrically –engaging in guerilla tactics by blowing up pipelines and causing the nation problems.”
Mr. Gbanite, therefore, urged leaders of the region to do more to condemn the activities of the militants and that the government should start a campaign to enlighten the residents of the need to shun the Avengers and other criminals in the area.
“The leadership, political and traditional, have all reasons to condemn the activities of the attackers,” Mr. Gbanite said. “The government should start sensitising the people using the media to condemn the militants and make them understand that it will be in their own best interest.”
Ijaw youth react
In its reaction to the increased militancy in the Niger Delta, the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, said the solution is for the APC-led government to address resource control agitations.
The IYC’s stance was contained in a communiqué signed by its President, Udengs Eradiri, and spokesperson, Eric Omare.
The communiqué was released at the end of a one-day stakeholders conference to mark the end of the month-long activities in honour of a late Niger Delta activist, Jasper Adaka Boro.
The IYC said the attempt by the federal government to award surveillance contracts to ex-militants
would not prevent the attacks on oil facilities. It said once the issue of resource ownership and control is addressed, communities would naturally protect oil pipeline situated in their communities as critical stakeholders.
The group also criticised some of the actions of the Buhari administration, saying they added further sparks to the militants’ actions. It listed the actions as the alleged cancellation of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State and the investigation of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for corruption.
The IYC said since previous presidents before Mr. Jonathan were not probed, the Buhari administration should also not probe its predecessor.
