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Nigeria: Bonga - Time to Mend
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Vanguard (Lagos)
EDITORIAL
24 June 2008
Posted to the web 25 June 2008
Lagos
Time is running out on mending the broken hopes of indigenes of the Niger Delta. Governments, since independence prefer empty talks to developing the region.
The result is the mixture of militancy and criminality that has taken over the area. Governments have had no answer to them. Attacks on oil facilities have gone on for years, but the notion, now wrong, was that off-shore facilities like Bonga, which daily delivered about 200,000 barrels of crude, were beyond the reach of militant groups like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND. Last week's attack that shut down the facility denied Nigeria daily revenue of N10 billion. The loss includes losses from other fields that are out of operation over agitations from host communities, or militants.
The attack was a gain for MEND. Nigeria got global attention for wrong reasons. It also questions the security of the nation's oil facilities. Bonga is 120 nautical miles, about 220 kilometres, off-shore. Militants were deemed incapable of accessing it. Billions of Naira has been poured into securing the nation's waterways from attacks of this nature. This strategy has failed.
MEND, unpalatable as it appear, made the point that it could strike wherever it wanted. The kidnap of an American on service vessel indicated that MEND could have done more damage if it wanted, it had enough time on its hands. Response from the security task force, merely confirmed the attack. Where was the joint task force? Where was the Navy? How did MEND travel 220 kilometres of open sea without being repelled? Are our shores this vulnerable? Can the military option still resolve this issue?
Government has to engage the militants in frank talks. The proposed summit looks more like another talking session to delay action in the region. Government (to the indegenes of Niger Delta region) appears more concerned with how these attacks affect its revenue than their plight.
We do not support criminality. It is equally wrong for government to allow the living conditions of its people to delve to sub-human levels in the Niger Delta. Threats of military actions on the militants have become unconvincing. Emboldened militants see government as unwilling to meet the minimum demands of the peoples of the region.
Does government need a summit to release budgets already made for the region? Which major projects have commenced in the region to tap its other economic potentials? What is impossible in implementing the two-year-old Niger Delta Development Commission master plan that was produced at great expense?
While we call on MEND to halt the attacks, government has to start addressing the Niger Delta beyond talks and plans for more talks.It is time government applied Section 142(b), which states that, "the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government."
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Peace and prosperity of the Niger Delta would benefit Nigeria, and the world.
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