By our Reporter

The meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of the Niger Delta under the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) scheduled for today, is a good beginning and a major step forward towards the resolution of the crises in the region.

While the leaders, traditional rulers and youths in the Niger Delta have had various bodies taking different positions, the PANDEF, scheduled to meet President Buhari is a unified one accepted by all the major groups in the region.

Militants vs Buhari

It is therefore a unique opportunity both for the Area and the Federal Government to build some foundation for peace in the Niger Delta. While it is true that as a country, we want to diversify our economy from the oil monoculture, the reality for now, is that oil remains the mainstay of the economy, and might remain so for a while.

Uninterrupted

oil flow: In any case, to tackle our immediate economic challenges and get the country out of recession, the country needs uninterrupted oil flow.

In this wise, it is in the overall interest of the country for this meeting and the expected follow- up negotiations to succeed.

For a start, in order to strengthen the hand of the delegation and assure the people that they can win big gains without resorting to violence, Government can make some immediate gestures such as restoring the Maritime University to its full status and withdrawing the military from the creeks where they are regarded as unfriendly forces.

It can also ask the oil companies to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta where they operate in, so as to enhance its economic viability and take a more drastic step to stop the environmentally harmful and resource-wasting gas flaring. Government can also put the Ogoni Clean-Up back on stream and propose a Marshall Plan for the development of the Region; the details can subsequently be worked out.

It is very important for instance to revive the moribund ports in the region such as those in Koko, Warri and Burutu which once provided mass employment in the Area; we must not forget that a major cause of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta, is mass unemployment.

Mass unemployment

While acknowledging a proposed $10 billion long term development announced by Government under its Seven Big Wins programme, the position of the Niger Delta leaders that such announcements have been done in the past without tangible things to show for it, should be taken into consideration.

Perhaps it will be in order for Government to invite the PANDEF to buy into the Seven Big Wins Programme, which in our view should have been done in the first place before its launch.

It is important that no matter the good intentions of Government, it should consult people that would be affected by its policies and programmes.

We commend the Government for its efforts, but the time has come for it to name its Negotiation Team to negotiate with the Niger Delta leaders.

On the other hand, the Niger Delta leaders and traditional rulers owe it a duty to reach out to their people to stop vandalism of oil facilities. The time to act, is now!