Before Dawn

In the early 2000s, Nigeria was faced with insecurities perpetuated by greed and grievance-driven militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta. This led to the 2009 Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). The programme is aimed at fostering peace in the region through payment of stipends and supporting the ex-militants through educational and vocational training.  This programme, arguably unsustainable, has been able to freeze the conflict in the region till date.

Yesterday, Bakassi youths in Cross River state organized a peaceful demonstration at the State House of Assembly to demand for the return of the 76 oils wells handed over to Akwa Ibom state by the Supreme Court of Nigeria during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in 2007.  The protesting group also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the legislation of the State Assembly that granted them rights to vote in their new location rather than at Dayspring island.

The Governor of Cross River state, Ben Ayade, has also lamented about the failure of the federal government to compensate the state for the loss of their oil wells. The Supreme Court judgement that ceded the oil wells to Akwa Ibom state made provisions for the payment of stabilisation support in perpetuity for the loss of oil wells by the federal government. Just like the protesting youths, the governor is demanding for the return of the oil wells. In addition, he bemoaned that the federal government has refused to admit members of the Bakassi Strike Force, a ex-militant group, into the amnesty programme after the state government had prevailed on them to surrender their arms.

It appears the Federal government is not doing enough to support people who migrated from the Bakassi peninsula that was ceded to Cameroon. The area is posing serious threats to maritime security. With Nigeria leading in piracy attacks, The Economist says that the Gulf of Guinea is the world’s worst piracy hotspot. The area could serve as potential safe haven for South Cameroon rebels fighting the Cameroonian government. In addition, there are chances of conflict spill over from South Cameroon, if Nigeria do not proactively govern the area.

These developments pose valid security risks as they can trigger conflicts and skirmishes. As such, there is need to properly address them. The protesting youths should be encouraged to seek redress through legal channels and not relapse to militancy. The governor of Cross River state should be wary of making utterances that will encourage the aggrieved youths into criminalities.

The federal government and INEC have to react positively to these claims. The federal government should see that the ex-militants are incorporated into the amnesty programme. It should also ensure that the state enjoy the stabilization support, as it’s a causative factor for the protests. INEC should respect the legislation of the state’s House of Assembly and ensure that people are not deliberately disenfranchised.

In earnest, if these issues are not addressed urgently, chances are the state and the nation in general might relive the militancy era that was strife with insecurities and enormous losses.