Niger Delta in 2016: Citizens say much to mourn, little to cheer

Surprisingly, no single respondent interviewed in the Niger Delta on positives of 2016 mentioned the much-touted flag-off of the $1 billion Ogoni cleanup ordered by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report of 2011. People of the region, especially the Ogoni, had pelted the Goodluck Jonathan administration for not starting the cleanup and setting the structures that would force the Joint Venture (JV) partners, including the FG, Shell, Total and Agip, to hand over the fund. It seems amazing that whereas non-flag-off was a big issue, flag-off is not. Not even from Ogoni elites interviewed.
No person also mentioned the completion of such a key road in the oil region as the N25 billion Ogbia-Nembe Road that links former President Jonathan’s area to other Ijaw areas despite the public love professed for the former president.
The rescue of Itu-Calabar Road that opened up the Cross River economy again to the rest of Nigeria also escaped mention by the elites that spoke for the masses. So did the successful reconstitution of centres of development in the region such as the NDDC, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, etc, and the flag-off of rebuilding of the Port Harcourt International Airport, the highest international contact point in the Niger Delta.
Not even the ease of oil prices with hopes of relief through more funds to the region, especially for NDDC, 13 percent to states, and Ministry of Niger Delta meant anything in the region.
This gives concern as to what the elites in the region see as positive. Some said the only thing positive was that they were alive to the end of the year. It was only one female business executive and manufacturer who pointed to completion of roads in Port Harcourt and conclusion of elections as something to celebrate, while a lecturer admitted that the amnesty programme by the Rivers State government was, to an extent, something to cheer.
The difficulty of the interviews was that most respondents who mentioned anything good were often swayed back to negatives, an indication that even the positives did not amount to much. They also relapsed into lamentations, re-launched into historical and legacy issues of old such as resource control, fiscal federalism, legalizing oil bunkering, environment, etc, as if they sprang up in 2016 or came with the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
These point to the fact that the federation is not balanced and that the leaders would look deeper than palliatives in tackling the problems of Nigeria. It may be an indication that some dialogue is urgently required to find out what exactly the people want.
The interviews
Emi Membre-Otaji, president, PH Chamber of Commerce (PHCCIMA)

Can you mention some few things the Niger Delta witnessed in 2016, good or bad?

Niger Delta within this one year did not witness much positive activity due to security challenges. The NDDC did not do much in actual terms compared to other years. There was no upsurge in development. There is much disaffection in the oil region. How would Oloibiri feel for exporting oil all these years without anything to show for it? There is need for a development plan for the region. We are a key component of this country. We want security, development, human capacity, etc, and these must be kept in the front burner. The cause of agitation in the region should be addressed. We have many generations of persons who are aggrieved. This must be addressed.

What are the major positive and negative highlights of 2016 as they relate to the PHCCIMA and the Rivers business landscape?
In 2016, PHCCIMA generally played to its objective. As a chamber of commerce, we are to facilitate trade and business in the state and for our members. In 2016, we made some significant inroads. Port Harcourt is in the Niger Delta which is an oil/gas hub of Nigeria. In that case, the crash in oil prices would affect our businesses more than the rest of Nigeria. That was why we did a business luncheon called ‘Beyond Oil’ in the first quarter of 2016. Do not rest only on your strength, in case of a crash. We were able to forge closer ties with the MDAs at both federal and state levels, such that our people were in federal delegations to foreign travels. We are now also invited to such trips. There are benefits of downturns. The positive is the shift of attention to other areas of the economy. We used 2016 to beam attention to the need to revive our ports and boost shipping. It is the dream of our founding fathers. It is about going back to our roots, while also doing oil/gas.
NACCIMA council, including the state councils, met in PH for two days. We did two significant things: the national council and city chambers were taken on a tour of the old PH port. They saw all these. The council appreciated the need to do something about Port Harcourt ports and took a position on diversification. When we say Port Harcourt ports, we mean eastern ports: Warri, Calabar, Sapele, Onne.
Emilia Ekama Akpan, national vice-president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)

Positives

The conclusion of the elections in Rivers State, to the Senate and House of Assembly. Both parties were represented. We can now look to their worthy representation and strong inputs in the upper and lower Houses. The completion of some the major roads in the Port Harcourt city helped ease vehicular movements. 2016 was also an exceptional year, with the unfolding of a political picture of most probably what will be the emergence of new parties, and the death of others. Good for democracy.

Negatives

The scandals in the judiciary were unfortunate. Who will help the people when justice is needed? The lack of direction of monetary policy makes financial planning difficult and uncertain. The inflation, lack of money and lack of financial direction are causing much grief in many families. Saving now is almost impossible. Incidence of suicides and deviant behaviour are on the increase. Many parents can no longer afford to send their children to school. They are forced to stay at home and this is causing social problems from every angle. The use of armed forces in the elections gives bad image to the country. The electricity problems have worsened. Obviously, NERC has no control of the Discos which are desperately trying to recoup their investments as the banks are no longer pretending the help anyone. Manufacturing has never had it so bad, as most have closed shop due to the financial and monetary uncertainties listed above.

Clinton Ezekwe, senior lecturer, Department of Geography and Env Studies, Uniport

Positives

Being alive to discuss the ills of 2016 is very important. Amnesty in Rivers is very important too. Despite the weaknesses of this programme, it has helped to reduce tension. In fact, I am from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local council area where there is massive violence. Omoku is still very empty. We are IDPs because many of us are on the run. It is not only in the north-east that you have IDPs, but my relations in Akabuka, Egi, Omoku, etc where people fled their homes. At least right now, you can travel home and come back. We are now visiting indigenes.

Negatives

It was a terribly bad year for Nigerians. Yes, the FG has challenges but the government has been fraught with many policy summersaults that have affected the foreign exchange balance. As a civil servant, I had my salary cut for flimsy reasons. Now, the FG is to increase taxes. So, I have a fixed salary which has been cut down, inflation has gone up to 18.5 percent, meaning I have lost 18.5 percent of the value of my salary, and then FG taxes me more. So, I am left with about 25 percent of my salary. This makes one think this is an oppressor-government. Another is insensitivity of the FG on the plight of the citizenry; it is the biggest negative of the year 2016.
The third is absence of policy thrust in the diversification scheme and the farm project. There must be a target and objective with specific milestones and feedback mechanism. Development does not grow on trees. The fourth is blowing up of pipelines by militants in the Niger Delta. I am an avid supporter of freedom for the Niger Delta people but I think that the pursuit of freedom should be couched within the realm of commonsense. Yes, these actions were however triggered by policies of the FG. So, in the past one year, everything that has happened to the Niger Delta is mere palliative, apart from some issues like some measure of security in the local scene.

Ben Naanen, professor of History, Uniport and consultant to NSRP (Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme)

Positives

That we are still one country is something. Other countries have witnessed balkanization. It is still important that we are still together as a people. We are hopeful that 2017 would bring more positives.

Negatives

It has been a difficult year for Nigeria. Recession has been very bad and created a lot of difficulties. Everybody is appealing to the President that suffering is high. For the Niger Delta, I am concerned about the violence in the area, oil vandalism, etc. It is unfortunate. We hope by 2017, we should see some light.
I expect the FG to talk to the Niger Delta to know their grievances. Nigeria has not been able to reap the OPEC agreement that caused oil prices to improve. It is important for the FG to find out these grievances; the whole question of youth unemployment, social condition in the area, etc. They should be able to arrive at solutions. So, get into a dialogue with the leaders of the region to address these vexing issues. The youths should embrace dialogue, cease fire, and allow the government to talk to the people.

Ignatius Chukwu