Niger Delta Crisis:The Way Forward.

[WaleAkin]

As Nigerians, both at home and abroad, i want to ask that we begin to think together, harness our thoughts, bring forward positive ideas to alleviate the suffering of the Niger Delta people, proffer lasting solutions and pass on such solutions as deem neccesary to the Federal Government for implementation with adequate monitoring. I'd also suggest that we do away with negative banters, caustic innuendoes, frovolous statements and above mundane issues as we come together to better the lot of these Nigerians who are our Brothers and Sisters.

Tonsoyo suggested this new thread hence the reason why i have opened one now. So pls, without referring to the other thread anymore, kindly list your suggestions in simple, clearer and concise format and lets take it from there pls.

We look forward to a fruitful deliberation and pray that in the not too distant future, the Niger Deltans will truly experience a lasting peace and begin to eat the good of their land.

I can see the beginning of a lasting solution!

Long live NVS.

[WaleAkin]

My simple suggestions:

1. Let the Federal government inaugurate an Adhoc Committee with a 90-day time scale to do the following:

A. Visit the ND area to identify the real causes of the brouhaha(No speculations, Rumour, Hearsays), let them identify the causes of the problems and make detailed notes.

B. Identify the local heads and speak thoroughly with them to ascertain whats needed. If you have a solution to a festering issue, you dont talk about it from afar but rather take it to where its needed. Let this Adhoc Committee act as an antipyretic and analgesic agent to the ailing Niger Delta region.

C. Also speak with these identified local heads to help speak with the militants to temporary sheath their swords.

2. Let the Adhoc Committee draw up a detailed reports with a 60-Month plan of poverty and suffering allevation.

3. If possible, let all onshore oil explorations stop during this 60-Month plan(My fear-What will be the costs on the Fed. Govt? Can we have an In-House expert to advise on this pls?)

4. Let the Adhoc Committee provide adequately for the need of these people with special emphasis on those severely affected.

5. Begin a thorough environmental cleaning.

6. Make conscious efforts to stop gas flaring or drastically reduce the flare.

Notes.
The question now is: Who and who should be nominated into the Adhoc committee since we have had bad experiences with the likes of OMPADEC and NDDC?

[emj]

Eherm, there's a committee in place already....consulting with various interest group.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?t...00809261413451

Niger Delta committee begins plenary next week
By Ibanga Isine, Port Harcourt
Published: Friday, 26 Sep 2008
Three weeks after its inauguration by Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, the Niger Delta Technical Committee will next week commence its plenary session in Abuja.

Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan

The committee, headed by Mr. Ledum Mitee, the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, was inaugurated on September 8 to review all previous reports made on the Niger Delta region.

Addressing the members, the vice-president had said that the Federal Government would take seriously all the recommendations to be made by the committee and urged it to bring out, wherever they would be found, reports on the region.

But a source told our correspondent that the committee was yet to start work on the final report to be submitted to the Federal Government.

Currently, he said members had gone back to consult with various interest groups and institutions in their states and communities to obtain their input for the committee’s work.

He revealed that the Federal Government had passed onto the committee the previous reports it had on the Niger Delta, but added that some of such documents might have lost relevance with time.

He said, “The government has given us what they have, but we have discovered that some new developments have taken place since such reports were prepared.

“That is why we have gone ahead to consult with our communities, groups, opinion leaders and even the people in the creeks so as to get their positions which will be incorporated into the final report.

“We want the outcome of our work to address the concerns of all the interests in the region and that is why we have applied a process-based approach to it.”

The source, who is a member of the technical committee, however, lamented the recent face-off between the Joint Task Force and the militants in Rivers State.

He said the crisis had stalled access to the militants’ groups, whose camps were located in creeks in the region and called for restraint on the part of parties involved in the fighting.

But a coalition of militant groups under the auspices of the Niger Delta Watchdog on Thursday condemned the attack on communities in Rivers State.

The group, in a statement signed by its President-General, Okara and Secretary-General, Mr. Sam Ebiye, said the arrest of 229 persons from the Port Harcourt Waterfronts was an infringement on the rights of the victims.

The group noted, “The claim of arresting 218 militants at the waterfronts is an indication of the extent of human rights abuses in Rivers State.

“The waterfronts the JTF claimed to have raided is inhabited by predominantly poor people of the state, but is poverty a crime? We advise the JTF to show professionalism in our region so that they don’t exacerbate the rate of insecurity.”

[tonsoyo]

I agree with the points as laid out by WaleAkin.

- A prime time well televised Town Hall meetings should be held in various designated areas of the NigerDelta, seeking grassroot opinions.

-We do not know who the genuine leaders of the people are, so a Town Hall Meeting should be preferred.

- Let people talk freely from their minds, there should be no no-go areas or intimidation.

- Offer to resettle people that are mostly affected by drilling activities should be suggested with adequate compensation formula and timeline.

- Government should suspend all Onshore drilling maybe for 30 days during the pendency of the discussions as a mark of respect and seriousness.

-NigerDelta leaders must also rein in the "militants" during the pendency of the talk. Every activity of both the genuine and fake agitators must be suspended to create a conducive environment for direct discussion.

[denker]

hi, folks!

..so the talk dey start...make una wait...i dey go collect my files..me just need to wipe out the dust...do not go away...you dey hear?

[bobokite]

Call for a sovereign National conference first and let every tribe/ethic group say what they want because militancy might just be a smokescreen.

[WaleAkin]

Three weeks after its inauguration by Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, the Niger Delta Technical Committee will next week commence its plenary session in Abuja.

Interesting! What have they been doing in the last 3 weeks? Thats a whooping 21 days of no positive results...........Now is this not what we are talking about?

The committee, headed by Mr. Ledum Mitee, the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, was inaugurated on September 8 to review all previous reports made on the Niger Delta region.

The choice of Lawyer turned activist Ledum Mitee is not right IMHO. We dont need to review any previous reports, what we need is a new injection which should obviously be new meeting schedules with all and sundry, what if the previous reports were doctored to suit certain personalities and criteria? I'd suggest that if we indeed want a lasting solution to the ND, the committee should embark on getting fresh and detailed info for its use.

Addressing the members, the vice-president had said that the Federal Government would take seriously all the recommendations to be made by the committee and urged it to bring out, wherever they would be found, reports on the region.

Good! Whats the timescale pls? We dont want an "open" committee with no wrap up date at all.

But a source told our correspondent that the committee was yet to start work on the final report to be submitted to the Federal Government.

They have a final report already?. Somebody help me here pls!

Currently, he said members had gone back to consult with various interest groups and institutions in their states and communities to obtain their input for the committee’s work.

Good! Another angle to the debacle as already suggested.

He revealed that the Federal Government had passed onto the committee the previous reports it had on the Niger Delta, but added that some of such documents might have lost relevance with time.

They have indeed lost relevance and we'd prefer new consultations and solutions tailored towards the present relevant needs.

“We want the outcome of our work to address the concerns of all the interests in the region and that is why we have applied a process-based approach to it.”

Good but can we have this "process based approach" open to all and sundry so we can have a read and make one or two inputs?

The source, who is a member of the technical committee, however, lamented the recent face-off between the Joint Task Force and the militants in Rivers State.

This Committee MUST win as a matter of urgency the trust of the Militants. They need to potray themselves as been on their sides and no one is lying here, the committee is inaugurated to find the root causes, proffer solutions and maintain a lastsing peace, if we then truly have this desired peace, ND militancy will definitely be truncated, so the first hurdle to be crossed is the needed trust on the part of the committee to the Militants.

But a coalition of militant groups under the auspices of the Niger Delta Watchdog on Thursday condemned the attack on communities in Rivers State.

Who are these people again?.......We have so many agitating groups in that region, nonetheless, the committee need to make everyone feel important to be able to achieve the desired result.

If possible, can we have a list of the committee members pls?

May a lasting peace come to the Niger Delta!!

[WaleAkin]

Originally Posted by bobokite

Call for a sovereign National conference first and let every tribe/ethic group say what they want because militancy might just be a smokescreen.

Bobokite,

A SNC may take a hell of time and could be energy sapping! YES, i know and understand that we truly need a SNC but in the meantime, i'd suggest that we plan an alleviation programme to atleast make the ND peaceful and source of livelihood returned. A SNC should be a last resort, lets not begin an expensive interior decor when the foundation is yet to be dug.

Thanks!

[emj]

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=124476

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=124386

[WaleAkin]

The name of the committee is: Presidential Technical Committee on the Niger-Delta with 45 members.

The Committee had also been divided into eight sub-committees, with specific areas of concentration aimed at provoking meaningful discussion and recommendations. The sub-committees include:

1. Critical Infrastructure.

2. Governance, Economic Development.

3. Resource Management and Distribution.

4. Health and Education.

5. Women and Youth Empowerment.

6. Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility.

7. Peace Building.

8. Militancy and Decommissioning.