British envoys urges Nigeria to look for long-term political solution to Niger Delta crisis

BRITAIN has urged the Nigerian government to look for a long-term political solution to the Niger delta crisis in a bid to end the incessant clashes there between the local communities and oil companies that has significantly reduced the country's crude output.

Over the last three decades, the Niger Delta has been the centre of controversy as locals complain against the pollution of their land by oil companies and the fact that they receive little of the revenue generated from the region. This led to several of them taking up arms against the government but for now a tentative peace prevails.

Stressing the need for a political solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta region, Louise Edwards, the second political secretary at the British high commission in Abuja said that although the issue was complex with a very long history, there was however relative peace in the area for some time now. She enjoined both militants and the government to continue to dialogue in order to sustain the ceasefire.

Ms Edwards said: “The Niger Delta issue is a complex one and it’s a long historic issue but there’s relative peace there for some time now, which is a really good thing. We are advocating and encouraging a political solution to the problems down in the delta.

 “There’s need for economic development in the region and we will encourage the militants and the government to carry on talking to each other for the government to fulfil the promises it has made and for the militants to continue with the ceasefire. We are doing what we can to support the government, we are working with other like-minded nations to sustain the peaceful solution so that the economic solution can come because as you know now economic development can’t take place without peace.”

She disclosed that the UK, apart from working in partnership with governments and civil society organisations had been implementing various programmes targeted at sustaining the peace in the region. It is not yet clear if the British government will provide any more funding for the Niger Delta.