SOLVING STAGNANT INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT CAUSED BY VIOLENCE

Addressing the issue of stagnant infrastructural development caused by Violence. A look at the Niger Delta  Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Since releasing the world bank report which shows Africa’s stagnant Infrastructural development. World leaders have continuously mounted pressure on African leaders to address the issue of stagnant infrastructural development. Most people would clamour for government to increase spending on infrastructural project. However, a major factor impeding the growth of Africa’s infrastructure is violence.

Therefore, it is accurate that a house divided against itself will not stand. A famous saying that holds true for national development. Since, the outbreak of war or internal conflict leads to a deterioration of available infrastructures. This is the reality for Omoku, a striving community in the Oil rich Niger Delta in Nigeria.

Since the discovery of Oil in the 1950s, the community had risen to become a major tourist destination. For instance, the influx of foreign oil workers prospered the business environment. The resulting outcome was the community getting the necessary infrastructures to grow into becoming a full-fledged city.

The underlying Issue

However, the growth in infrastructure had an underlying issue. Population rose steadily, unabated. While supply of teachers grew only sightly. Without the necessary educational facilities to meet the growing demand, a good number of the youthful population dropped out of school. These school dropout, mainly after high school proceeded to vocational skills training. The chances of a university education didn’t seem likely.

Nigeria’s youthful population is an economic advantage. They are potential manpower for nation building activities. However, in this case, the youthful population without meaningful employment gave rise to local vices – cultism, robbery, theft and other local vices.

The resulting outcome

Violence resulting from unemployment became the order of the day. Youths engaged in social vices to raise money for their frivolous lifestyle. The rise of “Don Wanny” is a good example of a local tout that tormented the city. Before long, these unemployed youths had taken hold of the economic mainstay of the region – the oil fields. Forcing the federal government to respond with heavy fire power. This exchange of bullet further deteriorated the existing infrastructure, while stalling future projects.

A way out of crisis

The government could not gain an advantage because of the guerrilla nature of the battle. So, a decision was reached to end the battle by offering a presidential amnesty programme. This programme is geared towards re-integrating ex-agitators into the society by equipping them with tools for economic upliftment.

Ex-agitators who take up the amnesty programme are sponsored on a vocation/skills training home or abroad. Thereafter, the government gives them start-up capital and machinery to kickstart their business. Some of such businesses exhibited at the just concluded 3-Day Entrepreneurial Fair organised by the amnesty programme.

These businesses are assigned mentors who make themselves a support system to assist the young entrepreneurs in their new venture. The philosophy behind this programme is “wealth creation not job creation” for sustainable development. This philosophy has come under serious scrutiny lately. Apparently, the amnesty programme pays out a monthly stipend of N69,000 to ex-agitators.

Is the strategy valid?

Mr. Gabriel Amadi, one of the beneficiaries of the programme since 2016. He decried that some recipients had sold their start-up equipment, and are now depending on the monthly N69,000 (USD $ 191.67). This interesting revelation puts government monthly expenditure at over N2 Billion (USD $ 5.7 million). A situation that is seen as a jobless salary scheme – free money.

This supports an existing argument that the presidential amnesty programme is buying peace for the oil companies. Enabling them to continue their exploration activities in these communities.

Your Thoughts

At the end of the day, peace comes at a cost to the tax payers. What do you think about the presidential amnesty programme, or the monthly payment?

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