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The Niger Delta Amnesty Program

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  • Benjamin A. Okonofua

Abstract

The armed conflict between militias and government forces in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region has spanned for more than two decades, defying all solutions. A disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program was established in August 2015 in effort to end the violence and has remained in place. It is a radically different approach from past approaches that displayed zero tolerance to all political challenges to oil production or the allocation of oil profits. The approach appeared to be immediately successful in that it forced a ceasefire, engaged militants in planned programs to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into civilian society, and opened up the oil wells (many of which had been shut due to the crisis) with the effect of increasing government revenue, which depends 85% on oil exports. Yet, few studies have attempted to understand the dynamics within the country that are responsible for the design and implementation of this broad policy shift or to understand whether and how the current initiative is able to end the conflict and institute peace beyond the short term. This study, therefore, is important because it provides a critical perspective that anticipates and explains emerging issues with the Niger Delta Amnesty Program, which have implications for DDR adaptation and implementation all over the world. Ultimately, the research demonstrates how the DDR program both transforms the Niger Delta conflict and becomes embroiled in intense contestations not only about the mechanism for transforming the targeted population but also whether and how the program incorporates women who are being deprioritized by the program.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin A. Okonofua, 2016. "The Niger Delta Amnesty Program," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(2), pages 21582440166, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:6:y:2016:i:2:p:2158244016654522
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244016654522
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Buhari Shehu Miapyen & Umut Bozkurt, 2020. "Capital, the State, and Environmental Pollution in Nigeria," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(4), pages 21582440209, November.
    2. Philip E. Agbonifo, 2022. "Socio-economic implications of poor environmental management: a framework on the Niger Delta questions," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 2453-2470, February.
    3. Uzoma Iloanugo & Indranil Dutta & M. Emranul Haque, 2020. "Do Amnesty Policies Reduce Conflict? Evidence from the Niger-Delta Amnesty Program," Economics Discussion Paper Series 2011, Economics, The University of Manchester.
    4. Kingsley Emeka Ezemenaka, 2021. "Youth Violence and Human Security in Nigeria," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.

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