The current conflict in the Niger Delta draws its origin from the late 1980s over tensions between foreign oil corporates and minority ethnic groups. The latter feel exploited by the former’s disregard for their environment, health and safety. Over time, the conflict has taken different dimensions from peaceful protests led by Ken Saro-Wiwa in early 1990s to the insurgence of MEND (the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) militants in 2006, eventually culminating in an amnesty settlement from the presidency in 2013. A recent spate of attacks by the Niger Delta Avengers has thrust the conflict back into the headlines.

Here is a list of the major players in the current Niger Delta crisis:

The Federal Government

The Federal Government of Nigeria has seen its revenue decline in recent years as a result of the effective vandalisation of critical oil facilities in the south-south region. The government receives 70 percent of its entire revenue and 90 percent of it foreign exchange earnings from the sale of crude oil. Thus, the stability of the region is excruciatingly important to the state. The Federal Government has succumbed to the activities of militants in the past by instituting amnesty programs, but all this has done is transform these militants into instant millionaires. Environmental degradation still persists in the area, translating into social unrest. The Federal Government will push for stability in the region, not only for obvious economic reasons, but a rectification of the environmental situation will send a signal of unity in a visibly fragmented nation.

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is one of the largest militant-groups-turned-peacemakers in the oil rich region. MEND’s stated goals are to localise control of Nigeria’s oil and to secure reparations from the federal government for pollution caused by the oil industry. The group is heavily armed and is responsible for the bulk of attacks on oil facilities between 2006-2013. They now spearhead conflict resolution talks with the Federal Government through the oil companies.

Niger Delta Avengers

The Niger Delta Avengers announced their existence in March this year and since then, they have gone on to destroy over 35 strategic oil and gas installations in the region. The militant group has surpassed its predecessor, MEND, in the frequency and scale of its attacks within a relatively short period. Similar to MEND, they are pushing for majority control of oil resources in the region but denounce the former militant group as ‘self-interested frauds.’

More Militant groups

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, NDJM, on Wednesday, blew up a major trunk delivery line in Delta State, fulfilling their earlier threats and demonstrating their operation capacities. In the last decade, several other militant groups have sprung up in the region, including the Niger Delta Liberation Front (NDLF), the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV) and the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF). The Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), similar to the NDA, was formed this year and all groups have similar fundamental objectives but differ in their peripheral demands and claim to represent different communities. However, MEND and the NDA have proved to be the largest and most potent.

Oil companies

Oil exploratory activities by multinational companies, including Shell, Mobil, Chevron, Elf and Agip, have caused serious social and environmental damage in the oil rich South-Eastern region of Nigeria. Crude oil extraction has caused the pollution of the river basin and surrounding land, the destruction of crops and the expropriation of local residents territory. Their outdated equipment and inept supervision of explorative processes are at the centre of recurrent oil spills all over the Delta region. These companies have seen their investment seriously threatened in recent times and will want to negotiate a swift resolution to the crisis.

 Communities in the Niger Delta

The affected communities in the Niger Delta are primarily the Ijaw and Ogoni residents. The Central Niger Delta region has the Ijaw (including the Nembe-Brass, Ogbia, Kalabari people, Ibani of Opobo & Bonny, Okrika, and Andoni clans). The Ogoni and other groups which consist of the Igbo, Etche, Ogba, Ikwerre, Ndoni, Ekpeye and Ndoki people are in Rivers State. These people have seen their livelihood, which primarily consists of farming and fishing, destroyed by the recurring oil spills in the region for decades. The life expectancy in the region has been adversely affected and in some cases their communities have almost become inhabitable. They want their communities restored and seek compensation from oil companies and the Federal Government for years of exploitation and maltreatment.