The Federal Government of Nigeria, working in tandem with humanitarian agencies and non-governmental agencies, has no other choice than to address with swiftness and dispatch the humanitarian crisis arising out of the military action in the Niger Delta.

Sadly, it is painfully obvious that there was no contingency plan put in place to take care of the fall-out effect on the contiguous civilian population when the attack on outlaw bases commenced. This is a terrible, unacceptable oversight and must not happen again. A democratically elected government in a constitutional democracy should have incorporated a thoroughly worked out plan to safeguard the well being of those the Nigerian military mindset might refer to as 'bloody civilians'. In addition, there must be carefully worked out positions on the rules and extent of engagement in conflicts of this nature in the future. We must remember, in this instance, that Nigerian troops are being deployed for operation within Nigerian territorial space.

The claims and counter-claims arising out of the military operation are very difficult to independently verify. What can however be deduced is that there has been significant displacement of civilians and a lot of economic dislocation. An insight into the magnitude of the displacement and dislocation was provided by the front-page report in this newspaper on Wednesday. Our correspondents based in the region reported that "troops on Tuesday intensified their offensive against Okerenkoko, another community in Delta State, razing down all buildings in the all-out confrontation against militants.... Community leaders said over 200 homes in Okerenkoko, the second largest settlement after Oporoza in Gbaramantu, were left desolate by the Joint Task Force (JTF)." In addition, the nation is also now faced yet again with a situation where members of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) are being caught in the frontlines. The harrowing accounts of NYSC members fleeing the war zone calls into question, afresh, the continuing suitability of an important national institution. The country clearly has a problem on its hands.

By whatever name called, there is definitely a humanitarian crisis in the theatre of conflict, and the government's response must be swift, thorough and compassionate. To state the painfully obvious, the reaction of the National Emergency Management Agency (NAMA) has proved, as usual, to be ponderously slow. Faced with another man-made emergency, the agency has failed to live up to not particularly exacting expectations. The case for its total overhaul and retooling is now more than ever incontrovertible.

In order to make up for lost ground, government's intervention must be accelerated. Emergency camps have to be set up, and admirable institutions such as Medicines Sans Frontiers must be encouraged and empowered with all the logistics needed to perform optimally. Ditto for the Red Cross and other such voluntary agencies. If need be, and this is probably the case, there must be airlifts of essentials, such as medicine, food, blankets, water, towels, clothing and sanitary facilities. The Nigerian government must use this opportunity not just to win the propaganda war, but also to reassure its citizens, through its response, that their country cares about them. Such a demonstrable statement of living up to the social contract will resonate beyond the Niger Delta and help to rekindle faith in a largely dispirited nation.

It is also imperative to use the opportunity to have a rethink about the entire Niger Delta issue. The great reggae lyricist Peter Tosh had cause to observe decades ago that "everyone is crying out for peace, but none is crying out for justice." He was absolutely right. There can be no lasting peace without social justice. The heightened militarisation of the crisis clearly shows that it is a a political solution only that holds the key to lasting peace in the region. This newspaper has consistently called attention to the need to tackle the root causes of the Niger Delta crisis. Almost five years ago, in a front-page editorial, for example, we called for a comprehensive 'Marshall' type plan for the Niger Delta. The consequences of the road not taken are now tragically before our very eyes.

Tokenism and lack of real commitment on the part of the central government are matched by crass opportunism on the part of the so-called community leaders. The lack of sincerity, on the part of the 'community leaders', has been a factor in pushing the youths into desperate and unacceptable courses of action. In calling for an immediate ceasefire of present escalation of the conflict, we urge that it must be used as the commencement of a genuine fresh approach to peace devoid of opportunism and self-aggrandizement.

The Nigerian state has failed the Niger Delta and the Niger Delta has been let down by a coterie of irresponsible leaders. Times such as the one we are in call for acts of statesmanship. The President of the federation must rise above partisan and regional consideration. In this regard President Umaru Yar'Adua should hearken to the wise admonition of the great British Prime Minister Clement Attlee that, "A leader must have courage. He must have guts. He must be ready to act swiftly and decisively." Acting 'swiftly and decisively' is not used here in a military context; rather it means a political leader must win hearts and minds. The time is appropriate for President Umaru Yar'Adua to offer a new deal, sensibly coordinated and vigorously implemented, for the Niger Delta. Solving the Nigerian problem must logically start with a plan for the Niger Delta area, which has contributed so much, with little to show for it, to sustaining the Nigerian Federation.