The Federal Government should fast-track the process of negotiating with the Niger Delta militants, particularly the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), to ensure uninterrupted operations and resumption of oil exploration and production activities in the region stakeholders have said.
This is coming on the heels of a recent statement by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, that negotiation with the militant groups is ongoing and would be concluded soon.
A Senior Lecturer, Energy Law, University of Lagos, Dr Dayo Ayoade, urged the government to expedite action on the issue of negotiating with the Niger Delta Avengers in order to end the crisis in the region.
He said the government saw negotiation as a tool for managing crisis and it should use it well. “There is nothing wrong in government negotiating with the militants in the Niger Delta. The issue does not have legal implication. The Federal Government has the right to protect its people, its assets and other things, hence its decision to negotiate with the militants. President Jonathan did the same thing. However, the government should try and do it in time to avoid bigger crisis,’’ he said.
Ayoade urged the government to resolve the problem as members of the Nigerian Armed Forces were overstretched fighting Boko Haram insurgents.
The Niger Delta Avengers had bombed oil facilities belonging to Agip, Chevron, Shell and other International Oil Companies (IOCs). This has affected crude oil production as well as the capacity of power firms to access gas for generation.
Also, a Director, Centre for Energy Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Omowunmi Iledare, has urged the government to negotiate with the group in time to save the country from further losses. “It is a terrible thing for the government not to negotiate with criminals. To the best of my knowledge, anybody who overtly or covertly destroys public assets, more so oil and gas pipelines, are criminals and they should be treated that way. You don’t negotiate with criminals. Instead you allow the law to take its course. Former President Jonathan negotiated with militants in the oil producing areas of Niger Delta.
Iledare, a former President of International Association of Energy Economist (IAEE) Nigerian Chapter, urged the government to do everything possible to resolve the issue of destruction of oil and gas facilities