| Niger Delta News, April 2007 |
Stakeholder Democracy News, Volume 2, Issue 3. 15th May 2007 Violence / Conflict / Kidnapping Issues
Analysis With the exception of the two major incidents above the relative peace through April and the election period is being claimed as a significant success by authorities. The election period witnessed a wider than expected local uptake and support for civil society led anti-violence campaigns. These campaigns may provide a starting point for future stabilisation efforts. SDN is actively involved with partners in some of the peace initiatives. Unfortunately, it has been claimed that were significant pay offs to armed groups in order not to cause trouble around the elections. This will have only postponed further violence and attacks are likely. There is a high risk of a replay of the breakdown seen in 2004, particularly in Rivers State, with the main difference being that there are more actors all of whom are better armed. Investors and the international community need to demand evidence that oil company and FG responses to the growing conflict have moved past short term pacification and appeasement to sustainable credible engagements. Issues
Analysis There are few redeeming features of the 2007 elections. The Supreme Court and some lower courts appear to be the only bodies that conducted themselves in a manner which offers any encouragement for the rule of law. The partial and obstructive approach taken by the electoral commission (INEC) has raised the question as to whether any further electoral progress is possible with a body appointed solely by the incumbent President. INEC's approach would not have been possible without the active collaboration of security agencies whose reputation is also tarnished by the handling of elections. The 'Joint Donors' financially supporting INEC - DFID, European Union CIDA (Canada), UNIFEM, and UNDP- are understood to be bitterly disappointed in INEC's conduct of the elections. Immediate commitment to making INEC fully and demonstrably independent and an INEC Board that has representatives of unions, civil society, and major political parties is an existing domestic civil society demand that needs revisiting urgently. Corruption / Governance / Transparency / Accountability Issue
Analysis The reappointment of Ribadu at the helm of the EFCC was not a certainty. Both domestic and international organisations had begun to express serious concerns over the politicised use of EFCC investigations by the Federal Government to harass political opponents. Ribadu faces numerous challenges - which include depersonalising the EFCC campaign and showing that the changes he is leading is institutional. The EFCC and Ribadu also need to prove that they can act independently under a less domineering President. The EFCC is one of the few areas where domestic and international observers would agree that international support has been justified. Supporters of the Freedom of Information Bill will probably be justifiably angry at the last minute refusal of the President to sign. The FOI Bill is another obvious question Sustainable Development / Environment Issue
Analysis President 'elect' Y'Aduas commitment to produce a strategy for the Niger Delta within 100 days in office correctly conveys the urgency that should be associated with the present situation. International actors should take every opportunity to seek tangible evidence that this commitment to swift action on the Niger Delta by the Federal Government is being supported and followed through. The campaign pledge of President Y'Adua to treat energy supply in Nigeria as a 'national emergency' is an issue that should be raised by those engaging the incoming government. The failures in every sector of energy supply have impacted as severely in the Niger Delta as any part of the country. SDN also noted local media reports throughout April on the disconnection of supply of gas from Shell to small industrial users in Port Harcourt. Local firms have laid off workers and unnamed sources quoted in the media have placed the blame on the Rivers State Government- who acts as an intermediary between customers and Shell. Media reports suggest that the Rivers State government has simply failed to pay its bills despite local manufacturers claiming their own payments to the state government are fully up to date. Shell responded to SDN's inquiries with the following statement: "SPDC is continuing discussions with the Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources with a view to clearing the backlog of payment problems associated with gas supply to some manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt"The main impact of this dispute is falling on local manufactures that have been disconnected from supply for a month at the time of writing. SDN would urge investors or actors who have any engagement with either the Rivers State Government or Shell to raise the issue at every opportunity so that some of the few non oil manufacturing businesses in the Niger Delta can be saved from further damage. |
