The Federal Government has been advised to consider the option of engaging and dialoguing with militants in response to the renewed waves of militancy in the Niger Delta region.
A former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who gave the advice yesterday, however, suggested that the engagement should be between regional leaders on one hand and another between the leaders and the Federal Government.
Nigeria has seen her crude oil production tumble from 2.2 million barrels per day to around 1.6 million bpd owing to recent attacks on crude oil pipelines in the Delta/Bayelsa axis by a new militant group – Niger Delta Avengers.
While President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to deal with the militant group the same way he dealt with Boko Haram and has given marching orders to the military to flush the militants out of the creeks, Mr. Uduaghan insisted that peaceful engagement is the best option available.
The former governor, who was a key player in the amnesty offer to former militants, was reacting to the latest attacks on oil giant, Chevron Nigeria’s facilities in the Warri area.
“The bombings are damaging our environment and it will take several years to rebuild”, Mr. Uduaghan said.
He added: “I want to advise the Federal Government to take the issue of dialogue very seriously because I believe that is the solution to the current crisis.
“The leaders of the Niger Delta should come together and engage ourselves to find solution to the problem”.
Speaking on rumour that there are external forces involved in the latest attacks, he said, “I do not think so because there is enough of issues in the region to cause what’s happening”.
The ex-governor also counseled his successor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to step up dialogue, engagement and improve on intelligence gathering to assist the Federal Government in dealing with the situation.
Mr. Uduaghan also pleaded with those behind the relentless attacks on oil and gas installations to rethink their action because of the economic challenges it is posing for the nation and ecological destruction to their region.
