Two months after it announced a ceasefire, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) group has resumed hostilities in the oil region. The militant group claims the renewed “action is a signature to the over dramatization of the so-called dialogue and negotiation process on the side of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.”
Late on Friday, the NDA announced through a statement on its website, that its strike team “has brought down oil productions activities at the Bonny 48 inches crude oil Export Line,” This marks the return of the Avengers to its old way. Before now, the last attack claimed by the group was on July 24.
This questions the relevance and effectiveness of the peace talk that the Nigerian government said it has been into with the oil militants. Last week, on the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari met with his American counterpart, Barack Obama to discuss the crisis in the Niger delta region. During the bilateral meeting, Buhari told Obama that “We [Nigeria] are making definite progress on how many factions of the militant groups exist, their leadership and operational basis, and we have equally sought the cooperation of the oil majors. In a short while, I believe the issues would be resolved.”
Prior to the latest attack by the NDA, attacks on oil installations, by other militant groups haven’t really ceased. As a result of this, Nigeria’s crude production level has been on a free fall in the last three months. According to the Monthly Oil Market Report, by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting country (OPEC), Nigeria’s crude production in June was 1.550 million barrel per day (BPD). The country recorded a further decline in production in the month of July (1.520 million BPD) and August (1.468 million BPD).
As against the position of the government, the latest attack on oil facilities suggests a dialogue between the Nigerian government and the Niger Delta militants is failing to reach a suitable end. Last week, the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki urged the Executive to engage in “meaningful dialogue” with those aggrieved in the Niger Delta, in order to “avoid an escalation of the conflict in the region”.
In Nigeria’s case, it is difficult to conclude dialogue as a tool has failed when talks have not been seen as “meaningful” and “not assuring enough”, as some quarters have noted. It is very crucial that Nigeria keeps up its crude production output now than any time before. The country is cash strapped, and it is in a recession. At least, targeted proceeds from oil sales need to be feasible, in order to fund the government’s economic recovery programmes. As it stands, genuine dialogue seems to be an unexplored panacea for the Niger Delta crisis.
