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Journal VOL. 1 NO. 1, June. 2019, ISSN: 2714 - 4054

 

Resolving Conflict through Amnesty Programme in Nigeria: The Niger Delta Experience

Ganiyu Duncan Adamson

 

ABSTRACT

The National question is vexed one that has defiled all attempts of the federal government to resolve. The debate over the granting of amnesty of to the Niger Delta militants may not have assumed the level of the popular IMF debate of 1986, in which the military president, Ibrahim Babangida, left for Nigerians the decision on whether or not the country should obtain loan from Bretton Woods's institution. This nonetheless, attracted national attention. Thus, the continual orchestration of militant activities and strong agitation for resources control by the people of Niger Delta has, as a consequence, created a frontal relationship between militants, from one viewpoint, the Nigerian government and its multinational partners on the other. Thus, the Yar'Adua's administration choice in 2009 to give the militants reprieve came handy and at the right time. Methodologically, the study was carried out using qualitative methodology (content analysis). Various existing documents were analyzed by the researcher to put the work together. It was found out that the amnesty programme and post-amnesty initiatives have been wrought with challenges. It was also discovered in the course of the research that many of the unemployed youth took advantage of its monetary incentives by registering as militants in order to receive the monthly stipend of 65,000 naira's. However, based on this, the amnesty programme provided an umbrella for thousands of jobless youth and wanted criminals seeking an avenue for finding employment and escaping justice.

 

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