Underdevelopment, Bane Of Insecurity In N’Delta – Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has called on stakeholders in the polity to address structures and processes that undermine security and expose citizens to harm in different parts of the country especially the Niger Delta region.

Governor Amaechi stated this last week while delivering the 2010 Distinguished Personality Lecture of the Peace and Conflict Studies of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, with theme “Towards A Sustainable Human Security Framework For The Niger Delta”.

Represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi noted that in the recent past, “spiraling levels of violence and almost complete breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta affected economic activities and almost grounded the national economy,” stressing that for human security to be guaranteed concerted efforts is needed to develop norms and processes that address insecurities.

He averred that people need to be empowered to enable them develop their potential and take part in the decision making processes, pointing out that “protection and empowerment are mutually reinforcing, adding that “to make our people secure we need social arrangements to meet their basic needs and ensure an economic and social minimum”.

The State Chief Executive further emphasized that “efforts to ensure sustainable livelihoods in the Niger Delta have to integrate access to land, microcredit, education, housing, health and an equitable distribution of resources, assuring that these “will enhance our people’s capacity and the region’s development”.

He advocated gender equality as a precondition to peace, security and a prosperous society, observing that “women and children are the worst victims of violence and conflict and are more threatened by unequal access to resources, services and opportunities,” giving a thumb-down to measures aimed at “addressing security concerns of individuals without regard to their biological differences”.

Lamenting the sorry state of things in the Niger Delta, Governor Amaechi said that though the region remains the main revenue earner of the Nigerian state, earning over $600 billion in the past 45 years, hosting three refineries, two petrochemical plants, gas and thermal stations accounting for 50 percent of the nation’s electricity supply, it is bedeviled by “environmental degradation such as flooding, fisheries depletion, deforestation, biodiversity loss, coastal erosion, oil pollution, gas flaring and mangrove degradation”.