Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD
📄 Download Paper

Hydrocarbon Governance and Fragile Peace: Community Perceptions of Post-Amnesty Stability in Rumuekpe Community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State

Elijah B.U. Chigweyaru, PhD

Abstract

The study investigated hydrocarbon governance and fragile peace with emphasis on community perceptions of post-amnesty stability in Rumuekpe community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State. The objectives of the study were to examine community perceptions of the level of post-amnesty peace and stability in Rumuekpe Community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State; and identify the major socio-economic and environmental factors that undermine sustainable peace in the Niger Delta. The study employed the Frustration–Aggression Theory proposed by john Dollard, Neal Miller, Leonard Dood, Orval Mowrer and Robert Sears in 1939. The study adopted a descriptive research design and relied on qualitative methods of data collection obtained from secondary sources, including academic books, journal articles and government publications among others. This was complemented with key informant interviews. The study concluded that effective hydrocarbon governance is fundamental to sustaining peace and promoting development in the Niger Delta. Although the Presidential Amnesty Programme seriously reduced violence and improved regional stability, lasting peace remains constrained by persistent poverty, environmental degradation, weak governance, and socio-economic disparities. The study recommended that the Nigeria Government should shift the focus of the Presidential Amnesty Programme from short-term reintegration and stipends to long-term socio- economic development by fully implementing the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, expanding employment opportunities, and investing in critical infrastructure, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship to ensure lasting peace and economic growth.

Keywords

Hydrocarbon governancefragile peacecommunity perceptionspost-amnesty stabilityand the Niger Delta Region

References

Adedej, O.B. (2023). An Assessment of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Nigeria. NJPDHA, 3 (2) Aina, O. S. (2022). Beyond amnesty and adversarial conflict management strategy for sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta Region. Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Creative Arts, 17(3) 27–40 Ajibola, A. (2015). Amnesty programme and sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Journal of Political Studies, 22(2), 45–61. Ako, R. T. (2012). Resource control in the Niger Delta: Petro-politics and justice. Routledge. Amnesty International’s report (2009). Nigeria: Petroleum, pollution and poverty in the Niger Delta Anejionu, O., Ahiarammunnah, P. &. Nriezedi-Anejionu, C. (2015). Hydrocarbon pollution in the Niger Delta: Geographies of impacts and appraisal of lapses in extant legal framework. Resources Policy 45:65-77 DOI:10.1016/j.resourpol.2015.03.012 Central Bank of Nigeria. (2014). Annual report and statement of accounts 2014. Central Bank of Nigeria. Ehuiken-Ayetin, P. G. (2026). Oil, Environmental Degradation and Conflict in the Niger Delta: A Political Economy Analysis. UKR Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (UKRJAHSS), 2 (2) Ibaba, I. S. (2018). Peace by other means: The amnesty programme and conflict resolution in the Niger Delta. University of Port Harcourt Press. Igeiwari, F. (2014). Theoretical Re-appraisal of the Post Amnesty Niger Delta. A paper presented at the National Open University of Nigeria . Unpublished Ikelegbe, A. (2013). The political economy of conflicts in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Nordic Africa Institute. International Crisis Group. (2018). Stopping Nigeria's spiralling farmer-herder violence (Africa Report No. 262). Karl, T. L. (1997). The paradox of plenty: Oil booms and petro-states. University of California Press. Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. (2023). 2023 annual statistical bulletin. Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. Obi, C. (2010). Oil extraction, dispossession, resistance, and conflict in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta. Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 30(1–2), 219–236.. Obi, C. (2014). Oil and the Post-Amnesty Programme : what prospects for sustainable development and peace in the Niger Delta? Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 41, No. 140, 249 –263 Ikelegbe, A. (2010). Oil, Resource conflicts and the post conflict transition in the Niger Delta Region: Beyond the Amnesty. Centre for Population and Environmental Development Okumagba, P.O. (2014). The amnesty programme: A panacea for achieving sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta. International Journal Of Advanced Studies in Ecology, Development And Sustainability, 2 (1) Olawole, O. & Omadia, S. (2016). Internal Insurrection and Amnesty Policy in Nigeria: A case study of Niger Delta Militancy. African Journal of Stability and Development Vol.10, No.1, pp134. Oyedele, O.J. & Stoddart, M. C.J. (2026). Participation and environmental governance in Niger Delta’s oil producing communities. The Extractive Industries and Society Presidential Amnesty Programme. (2018). Presidential Amnesty Programme: Progress report. Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs. Rohrbacher, F. & St-Arnaud, M. (2016). Root Exudation: The Ecological Driver of Hydrocarbon Rhizoremediation. Agronomy. 6 (1). Singh, S. N., Kumari, B. & Mishra, S. (2012). Singh, Shree Nath (ed.). Microbial Degradation of Alkanes, Microbial Degradation of Xenobiotics, Berlin, Heidelberg. Heidelberg, pp. 439–469 United Nations Development Programme. (2006). Niger Delta human development report. United Nations Development Programme. United Nations Environment Programme. (2011). Environmental assessment of Ogoniland. United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations. Watts, M. (2008). Blood oil: The anatomy of a petro-insurgency in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Focaal, 2008(52), 18–38. Watts, M. (2008). Curse of the black gold: 50 years of oil in the Niger Delta. PowerHouse Books.

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

Governance Quality and Capital Inflows in Selected Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas)

Author: Ekere, Edobot, Chukwu, Sancho Nwobuisi , Amadi, Sonny Nwonodi , Ewubare, Dennis Brown

Farmer–Herder Crises and Its Implications on Food Security in Sankera, Benue State, Nigeria: An Empirical Mixed-Methods Study

Author: Iorkaan Samuel Kuma, ., Yange Clement Terlumun, ., Bam Clement Liambee, Hubert, Keghnen Katyona, ., Terngu Paul Ugosor

Impact of Economic Volatility on Students’ Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools in Plateau State: The Moderating Role of School Infrastructure and Resources

Author: Bitrus James Pam, Prof. Eggon Henry, Augustine Sambo Azi PhD

Employee Engagement in Nigeria's Dynamic Business Environment: Challenges, Drivers, and Strategic Imperatives for Sustainable Organizational Performance

Author: Worlu, Chimerumeze Charles PhD, Geoffrey B.E. Obinna, PhD

The Cost of Emotional Labour: Implications for Commercializing Human Resource Outcomes in Modern Organizations

Author: Samuel, Ogonda Victor PhD, Uhuru, Goodluck Prince. PhD, Agara Splendorpeace Dunbo PhD