The Political Economy of Peacebuilding in Nigeria's Niger Delta Region
Abstract
Abstract Views: 0
Most conflicts including insurrection of militant movement in the Niger Delta are subject to contestation due to natural resources and the accruing benefits therefrom are inextricably linked to its political economy. Therefore, the political economy of peace building is about response mechanisms evolved by the government to address their root or potential causes. The article examines the political economy of peace building highlighting the vital roles of government agencies and their paradoxical nuances in addressing the conflict and deficit of development infrastructure. From a critical institutional perspective of the mandate of government agencies, the article attempts a kaleidoscopic reflection of the peace building framework of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme and Ministry of the Niger Delta Affair. The broad objective is to examine the peace building framework evolved to address the root or potential causes and create a supportive environment to avoid relapse of violence. It is a descriptive survey using data generated from scholarly review, official reports and personal interviews from parts of a broader fieldwork in the Niger Delta. The article highlights arguments on the paradoxical nuances that precipitates a lack of coordination of the peace building efforts of NDDC, PAP and MNDA and its negative implications for genuine security and sustainable development. In doing so, it proposes the establishment of a directorate of compliance with internal protocol to direct financial and performance reporting obligations by the agencies. Finally, the article concludes that in order to alter conflict dynamics into sustainable peace, the micro, meso and macro elements of political economy of peace building should be mainstreamed.
Downloads
References
Abu-Nimer, M. (2018). Alternative approaches to transforming violent extremism: The case of Islamic peace and interreligious peacebuilding. In B. Austin & H. J. Giessmann (Eds.), Transformative approaches to violent extremism (pp. 13–35). Berghof Foundation.
Agbiboa, D. E. (2015). Transformational strategy or gilded pacification? Four years on the Niger Delta armed conflict and the DDR process of the Nigerian Amnesty Programme. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 50(4), 387–411.
Aghalino, S. O. (2009) Gas flaring, environmental pollution and abatement measures in Nigeria, 1969-2001. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 11, 219–238.
Ake, C. A. (1981). A political economy of Africa. Longman.
Akinwale, A. A., & Osabuohien, E. (2009). Re-engineering the NDDC's master plan: An analytical approach. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 11(2), 142–159.
Alozieuwa, S. H. (2010). Beyond the ethno-religious theory of the Jos conflict. Africa Peace and Conflict Journal, 3(2), 23–39.
Ayuk, M. E. (2020). The political economy of the Nigerian government amnesty program in the Niger Delta: 2009–2018 [Doctoral dissertation, University of Leipzig]. PUBLIKATIONSSERVER de Universität Leipzig. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa2-708375
Baare, A. (2007). An analysis of transitional economic reintegration. Swedish Initiative for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=bf18f33f338b9cf01bb684079cc113db356828df
Boaz, A., Hanney, S., Borst, R., O’Shea, A., & Kok, M. (2018). How to engage stakeholders in research: Design principles to support improvement. Health Research Policy and Systems, 16, Article e60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0337-6
Bodenstein, T. (2024). Stakeholder analysis. SciencesPro. https://ephe.hal.science/LIEPP-METHOD/hal-04718130v1
Boutros-Ghali, B. (1992). An agenda for peace: Preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, and peacekeeping (A/47/277 - S/24111). United Nations. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/145749?ln=en&v=pdf
Chetail, V., & Jütersonke, O. (2015). Peacebuilding: A review of the academic literature. Geneva Peacebuilding Platform. https://www.gpplatform.ch/en/knowledge-hub/whitepaper-series-no-13-peacebuilding-a-review-of-the-academic-literature
Eluka, J., Uzoamaka, N. O. P., & Ifeoma, A. R. (2016). Multinational corporations and their effects on the Nigerian economy. European Journal of Business and Management, 8(9), 59–67.
Falola, T. (2021). The political economy of oil. In T. Falola (Ed.), Understanding modern Nigeria: Ethnicity, democracy, and development (pp. 285–313). Cambridge University Press.
Fetherston, B. (2000). Peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding: A reconsideration of theoretical frameworks. International Peacekeeping, 7(1), 190–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/13533310008413825
Frieden, J. (2020). The political economy of economic policy. International Monetary Fund. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2020/06/political-economy-of-economic-policy-jeff-frieden
Gulf News. (2018, September 15). Niger delta avengers spawn copycats in Nigeria's oil heartland. https://gulfnews.com/world/africa/niger-delta-avengers-spawn-copycats-in-nigerias-oil-heartland-1.1886020
Holodyn, E. (2016, March 17). Africa's largest oil producer has been dethroned. Business Insider. https://uk.businessinsider.com/niger-delta-avengers
Hume, E., & Strawmyer, L. (2018). The motivation of countering violent extremism policy. In L. Schirch (Ed.), The ecology of violent extremism: Perspectives on peacebuilding and human security (pp. 189–196). Rowman & Littlefield International.
Ikelegbe, A. (2005). The economy of conflict in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Nordic Journal of African Studies, 14(2), 208–234.
Ikelegbe, A., & Umukoro, N. (2016). Exclusion and peacebuilding in the Niger Delta of Nigeria: An assessment of the presidential amnesty programme. Journal of Peacebuilding, 11(2), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/15423166.2016.1189347
International Crisis Group. (2009, April 30). Nigeria: Seizing the moment in the Niger Delta. https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/nigeria/nigeria-seizing-moment-niger-delta
Jarikre, M. (2017). Remobilization, rearmament, and amnesty in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 1(1), 155–172.
Jarikre, M. (2024). Peace and conflict impact assessment of development intervention on conflict dynamics in Gbaramatu Kingdom. NIU Journal of Social Sciences, 10(4), 167–180. https://doi.org/10.58709/niujss.v10i4.2041
Joab-Peterside, S., Porter, D., & Watts, M. (2012). Rethinking conflict in the Niger Delta: Understanding conflict dynamics, justice and security. University of California. https://geography.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/watts_26.pdf
Johnson, D. (2021, March 18). Ministry of Niger Delta trains, empowers 1500 youths. Vanguard Nigeria. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/03/ministry-of-niger-delta-trains-empowers-1500-youths/
Kenton, W. (2025, April 8). Political economy, definitions, history and applications. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/political-economy.asp
Kujala, J., Sachs, S., Leinonen, H., Heikkinen, A., & Laude, D. (2022). Stakeholder engagement: Past, present, and future. Business & Society, 61(5), 1136–1196. https://doi.org/10.1177/00076503211066595
Luqman, S. (2011). Democratic governance and the management of oil conflict in Nigeria’s Niger Delta: Policy options and challenges. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 5(2), 83–91.
Niger Delta Development Commission. (2006). Niger delta regional development master plan (NDRDMP). Printing Development Company Ltd. https://tinyurl.com/2tyxz674
Nnabuife, C. (2021, September 29). More projects to be commissioned in Niger Delta. Tribune Online. https://tribuneonlineng.com/more-projects-to-be-commissioned-in-niger-delta-%E2%80%95-akpabio/
Ogbuku, S. & Agbai, E. P. (2022). Political economy of presidential amnesty programme and its impact on militant activities in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Journal of Industrial Administration, 2(3), 60–73.
Omoweh, D. A. (2011). Political economy of natural resource struggles in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Covenant University. https://tinyurl.com/bdhadujp
Onokerhoraye, A. (2000). The political economy of the Niger Delta region: Examining the future from the past and present [Unpublished manuscript]. TAS & Associates.
Osinbajo, Y. (2017). Remarks by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during his engagement with oil-producing communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, on Monday Jan 16. The Aso Villa Medium. https://theasovilla.medium.com/remarks-by-vice-president-yemi-osinbajo-during-his-engagement-with-oil-producing-communities-in-94d564428480
Premium Times. (2017, May 31). Despite spending N423 billion in 6 years, Niger Delta Ministry had only 12 per cent project execution. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/232723-despite-spending-n423-billion-in-6-years-niger-delta-ministry-had-only-12-per-cent-project-execution.html?tztc=1
Premium Times. (2021, September 2). NDDC has 13,000 doubtful projects despite receiving N6 trillion allocation in 19 years – Malami. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/482638-nddc-has-13000-doubtful-projects-despite-receiving-n6-trillion-allocation-in-19-years-malami.html
Pryor, F. L. (1990). The political economy of poverty, equity, and growth: Malawi and Madagascar. Oxford University Press.
Pugh, M., Cooper, N., & Turner, M. (Eds.). (2008). Whose peace? Critical perspectives on the political economy of peacebuilding. Palgrave Macmillan.
Schirch, L. (2018). Unintended impacts and ecological metaphors of violent extremism. In L. Schirch (Ed.), The ecology of violent extremism: Perspectives on peacebuilding and human security (pp. 189–196). Rowman & Littlefield International.
Tangen, K. (2003). Shell: Struggling to build a better world? The Fridtjof Nansen Institute. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/95204/FNI-R0103.pdf
Wennmann, A. (2019). The political economy of violent conflict within states. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.370
Copyright (c) 2025 Mathias Jarikre
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
