The Amnesty Programme and the Challenges of Ending Youth Militancy in Nigeria’s Niger Delta

Abstract

The Amnesty introduced by the late President Umaru Yar Adua in 2009, no doubt brought some respite to the crisis in the Niger Delta region. However, there remain strong concerns on how to sustain the relative peace that has been achieved so far. The Amnesty was preconditioned on the surrender of arms and renunciation of militancy to be eligible for inclusion in an Amnesty programme for rehabilitation and reintegration, which included monthly allowances and training for the ex-militants. Despite the progress made through the amnesty, it has been characterised by various challenges which could reverse the gains of the programme if not properly managed. The paper examines the amnesty programme from its inception under late President Yar Adua, and what it portends for the youth, including those that are not/were not militants. The paper is qualitative in terms of its methodological approach. It argues that the amnesty programme should go beyond dealing with the problem of militancy and should include youth that were not militants, but who also have a stake in the region. The paper concludes by recommending that ending youth militancy fundamentally depends on the commitment of the government as well as other stakeholders to address the developmental challenges in the region, as this holds more promise of sustaining peace. This to a large extent depends on a leadership that takes seriously the issue of governance, development and environmental justice, which have eluded the region for decades.