What next for the Ex-militants from the Niger Delta? Is the FG capable?

What next for the Ex-militants from the Niger Delta? Is the FG capable?

On my recent trip to Lagos, I noticed a uniformed force on the roads that assisted with the direction of traffic. I thought there were local government officials, but my brother clarified: No, they are members of the OPC, they have more or less be transformed to a civic force that assists the Lagos state government with various activities, one main one, Traffic control and dealing with Lagos chaotic traffic jams.

I also remember when Marwa was the Adminstrator of Lagos State how he solved the Area Boys problems at the time, by forming what he called “Good Boys and Girls Clubs” If I recall correctly, 2-3 school like facilities were built, classrooms and hostels where they were accommodated and taught various trades. Many of them were used in Marwa's beautification program of cleaning up the street and planning flowers in public areas.

I use the examples above to illustrate that Nigerians understand what it takes to rehabilitate its “wayward” citizens. They may not be perfect, but they have an idea on what needs to be done. I have followed the stories on the Amnesty in the Niger Delta and I keep asking myself, so “What next?” How do you properly rehabilitate a group used to the use of force and war to embrace the democratic ideas and ways of peace? How do you make them justify their putting down their arms? How do you prevent a situation where ex-Biafran soldiers are still bitter decades after the Biafran war due to have they have been neglected in times past?

The solutions required for the Niger Delta ex-militants would make the example of solutions I described above like child play. The ex-militants need far more serious and planned rehabilitation, integration and development. And I worry that the Nigerian Federal Government is not just unwilling to provide the comprehensive integration required, but may very well not be incapable of providing what is required. So I have decided to give them a hand in case they are looking.

It appears there are three basic reasons why the Ex-militants embarked on their mission.

1. To fight for better resource control on the Niger Delta for the development of their lands.
2. To make a living, being self employed. Using the “cause” as cover to engage in oil bunkering.
3. They were turned loose by the politicians that set them up and financed them for electoral rigging.

As we can see, only one reason can be considered a legitimate cause for the militants. And this is going to be the most difficult to satisfy or solve. However the resolution and rehabilitation of the Ex-militants needs to focus on the following areas.

• Rehabilitation and Integration
• Re-Education and Training
• Job creation and Business development.

Rehabilitation and Integration:
The ex-militants have spent years living in the creeks, even though they had many comforts at their disposal, what they did not have was living according to the rules of an established society. Then we need to consider the stigma that is attached to being labeled a “Militant” hence this individuals need to be properly re-introduced back into society and be accepted and not feared. Many of them are used to getting high on drugs and shoot up god knows what to remove any fear. Consequently, many of them are probably drug addicts. How do you wane them off these drugs? So there must be a drug detox program in place.

Rehabilitation needs to be comprehensive. The goal of the rehabilitation is to ensure they do not miss the luxuries or life of the creeks to desire to go back to that lifestyle. And also to remind them of the democratically elected and constituted authority (despite the fact that those authorites are in themselves a sham). Accommodation must be adequate and above standards. Government should pay motels and hotels to accommodate the ex-militants for a defined period of time. Putting them up in domitories is simply not good enough. While there may be a danger in this encouraging others to go and also take up arms, it cannot be seen as a reason to back away from progressive thinking.

Secondly treating the Ex-militants in such a fashion will show those yet to accept the Amnesty to give it a second thought. They should be given allowances for meals and incidentals and transportation should be provided for their use. Not individual cars, but busses to move them around town.

Finally, the community should show they are happy to see them back in the society and not see them as the “armed robbers” of tomorrow. The amenities and stipends noted above should not be opened ended. They should be for a specific period of time, a year, or 18 months after which the militant is expected to fend for him or herself. The goal is not to treat the ex-militants like royalty, but to make them understand the life outside the bush and creeks is indeed better.

Re-Education and Training:
This is the most critical part of the process. The question becomes what do I do next? A militant will ask themselves, as even if you feed them well give them accommodation, as the saying goes, the idle mind is the devils workshop! Hence they must NOT be allowed to become idle. So beyond accommodating them, there must be a future planned for them. Many of the ex-militants are graduates so they are not all illiterate men and women. Various programs need to be in place to re-educate and train them. For example leaders and deputies can be sent to colleges within Nigeria and abroad for training in democratic principles and how to effect change through peace. They can return and become political leaders in their communities. They need to understand how to showcase their plight to convince the nation and the world of their neglect and needs. They need to understand how to go to Abuja, form coalitions and get things that will benefit their states.

Some may want to get trained in jobs like environmental remediation so they understand what exactly to demand from oil companies that are operating in the creeks and destroying the vegetation. Then a deal could be struck with the oil companies to hire them and pay for the environmental clean up if the oil companies refuse to do so.

The goal of the re-education and training is to prove there is a good life beyond the barrel of the gun and the risk associated with engaging in acts like oil bunkering are not worth the gains. The financial gain may be smaller, but the job satisfaction would be better.

Job Creation and Business Development
So you accommodate them, train them educate them, what next? Turn them loose!? No! Set them up!!! This becomes the anchor of the whole process. Getting them gainfully employed. Government is in my opinion is not a charity, so it should not dash people money nor should people be on welfare even IF the oil comes from their backyard. But as we all know, government can empower the ex-militants, government can create wealth. It should set up a small business loan scheme that will allow ex-militants to set up businesses and compete for jobs. Just as we have in the United Stated where we have classification of businesses and this classification gives additional points on government funded projects, the same can apply to the delta. In the United States most commonly we have SME Small Businesses Enterprise SDVC Service Disable Veterans Company, Hub-Zone and 8A companies. The government recognizes that these small companies cannot compete evenly with private larger companies, hence certain projects are set aside exclusively for the companies in the categories listed above for them to win projects.

This same idea can be applied to the ex-militants. The beauty of this idea is the ex-militants will get involved in the development of their community. As is done in the United States a certain percentage of every government (state and federal) funded project must go to a “disadvantaged” company. In many cases 35% of the total project cost. This law drives larger companies, for example in Nigeria, like Julius Berger, and Cappa D’Albeto to hire smaller local companies. This creates employment, and also allow the smaller companies to also grow and eventually compete for jobs on its own. Their involvement (if they are sincere) would mean that even on larger projects, not all the monies fly back to the the large conglomerates in Lagos and Abuja, significant amounts end up staying within the state.

Beyond setting up companies, as is the case with it the OPC, a civil force can be formed to augment the police in non-violent assistance areas like traffic control, community development. community organization, voter enlightenment and education. Health service officers, environmental officers, private security companies, et al. These are a few ways they can remain gainfully employed and at the same time develop their communities. The danger with this idea is it could open up and avenue for abuse and lead back to criminal behavior hence it must be strictly implemented and evaluated.

The plans above can only succeed with two major inputs:

100% commitment from the Federal Government to develop the Niger Delta

100% Commitment from the Ex-militants to reject violence and embrace peace.

The fact is in a country like Nigeria, implementation is ALWAYS the problem, hence as noted above, both sides need to be committed to endure and work through their problems and the development of the programs and fix the errors along the way. While the FG must commit to fund the programs adequately and on time, the ex-militants must also commit to not being lazy and only looking for a handout from the FG. Success in the Delta of such a program would be a blue print for solving other troubled spots in Nigeria, as well as within the sub-region and continent that is in dire need for a program that properly solves armed conflicts in the region.

For all the laudable talk I have read, I am simply not convinced that sincerity of the FG to make this work. I will say, if indeed Yar’Adua can successfully stop the Niger Delta conflict, get the ex-militants to down arms and rehabilitate them. I will be the first to say give him a second term! Even if he needs to spend the next fours years permanently hooked up to a machine and operates out of a mobile bed. Also that will be one things he can use to gloat over his predecessor, fixing the problems in his own backyard rather than fixing those of others.