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Fragile peace in Nigeria‘s oil region to face test of timeDate : 18/12/2009 Publication
: German Press Agency dpa Category
: Feature
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Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta has enjoyed a rare period of peace at the tail end of 2009 as a government amnesty for oil militants bears fruit.
Oil production in the West African nation is rising again after three years of decline - which allowed Angola to surpass it as Africa's top oil exporter - and there is growing optimism that the seemingly unsolvable conflict may be at an end.
But one swallow does not make a spring, and much remains to be done to address the grievances of the region's main militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which is still suspicious of the government.
MEND said it was fighting for a share of oil revenue for Niger Delta residents, who complain that multinational oil companies have ruined their agriculture and fishing livelihoods and caused major environmental damage in the delta's creeks.
Attacks on oil production facilities by MEND and the syphoning off of oil by criminal gangs slashed the West African nation's oil production from 2.6 million barrels per day in early 2006 to around 1.7 million barrels prior to the amnesty.
However, MEND in late October responded to the amnesty with an indefinite ceasefire and Henry Okah - believed by many to be the leader of MEND, although he claims only to be a "concerned citizen with the ear of the militants" - believes peace should be given a chance.
"I think everyone should give as much time and energy to finding peace as was given to the fight against the Nigerian military and the oil companies," Okah, who was released from jail earlier this year as part of the amnesty, told the German Press Agency dpa.
"However, the government will act wisely in acting speedily to address the cause of agitation in the delta."
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