Olamilekan Okeowo with Agency Report
The fragile peace being enjoyed in the Niger-Delta is been threatened as Prominent community leaders in the country’s oil hub threatened on Monday to pull out of peace talks with the government unless their demands were met by Nov. 1.
They told a news conference in Abuja the federal government had failed to implement promises to drag the region out of poverty, a key demand by militants who had stopped attacks on oil pipelines to give peace talks a chance.
“Human endurance has a limit beyond which one cannot predict what the outcome will be,” said chief Edwin Clark who spoke for the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) which has been holding peace talks with the government since last year.
The Niger Delta leaders had presented President Muhammadu Buahri a list of 16 demands at a meeting on Nov. 1, 2016 after which the main militants groups halted attacks in the southern swamplands to give the talks a chance.
“If, at the expiration of the November 1, 2017 ultimatum, the Federal Government fails and or refuses to accede to these lawful and legitimate demands of the Niger Delta people, PANDEF may consider pulling out of the ongoing peace process in the Niger Delta,” Clark said.
Demands included more development aid for the impoverished region, the relocation of oil companies’ regional headquarters to the southern region and a clean-up of polluted areas.
Last week, the presidency said Nigeria’s acting president will meet again with community leaders from the Delta.
Osinbajo was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the country while the leader remains in Britain on medical leave for an undisclosed ailment.
Oil exports are now set to exceed 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, the highest in 17 months, from as little as just over 1 million bpd at certain points last year.
That is due to a steady decline in attacks on pipelines, providing a much-needed injection of cash into Nigerian government coffers.
“It is a matter of regret to note that the efforts of PANDEF to help Nigeria climb out of recession through a stable oil and gas production regime, have not been met with tangible reciprocal action by the Federal Government,” Clark said.
This latest development is raising serious concerns amongst concerned stakeholders who believe it may have a negative impact on oil output which is rising steadily due to the relative peace being enjoyed in the region following a ceasefire agreement Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo was able to broker in the region.
