The ‘MMT’ Model of Peace-Building for Actualization of Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract:

The Nigeria’s Niger Delta region has since the uprising of Isaac Boro in February 1966 witnessed renewed conflicts. The region, devastated by oil and gas exploitation for over 60 years and the people still prevented from benefiting from the huge revenue, have raised an army from the abandoned youths to disrupt oil and gas facilities, kidnap and hostage taking of oil/gas companies’ staff. The action is meant to attract positive response from the federal government and multinational oil companies (MNOCs) that are allegedly inducing the conflict. Instead, they (federal government and MNOCs) have resorted to counter-insurgence measures, thereby creating high degree of insecurity and instability in the region and country. The scenario has been compounded by the lack of an appropriate model of peace-building since the Fourth Republic in 1999. Thus, the aim of the paper is to formulate and create public awareness of a modified multi-tract (MMT) model of peace building that would promote good governance to stimulate sustainable development of the region. Accordingly, the study adopted the ‘state-induced violent conflict’ framework propounded by Etekpe (2009b), and applied a combination of ‘participant-observation’ and documentary methods; and found that the ‘MMT’ model is cardinal in promoting security, peace and development (SPD) in the region. The implication of this for public policy is that government has to move away from counter-insurgence and adhoc measures to that of demonstrating political will to engender good governance in the region and country. Thus, the paper recommended that government should implement the UN provision on the Law of the Sea to protect and guarantee the rights of coastal states to sustainable development.