Security Challenges and Arms Control in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria (A Case of 2009 Amnesty Programme)

Abstract

One of the huge obstacles disturbing so many societies around the World today and Economic Communities of West African States, as well as Nigeria in particular, is Security problems. But these problem varies from one community to the other which attracted the attention of the World, State, Regional, and Global Non-Governmental Organization as it has increased tension and separated the high number of intra-state crises or violent. But for the purpose of this paper, the study narrows down to the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The region was blessed with mineral resources which cause land exploitation and make the communities live miserable compared to other communities in the country. These conditions of hardship cause internal conflicts and light weapons smuggled from Countries like; Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, and Cameroon which is against the role of ECOWAS on Small and Light Weapon (SALW) adopted in each member States in which Nigeria is not excluded. As an attempt to manage the Security Challenges and Arms Control in the Niger Delta Region, was the declaration of Amnesty Programme by Late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. The death of the President did not bring an end to the Amnesty Programme, because Good Luck Jonathan was the Son of Niger Delta and became Nigerian’s President who allowed the policy and the program to continue. The study examined the effectiveness of the 2009 Amnesty Programme in curbing out the Arms Proliferation in Niger-Delta Region which poses serious challenges to the Security of Nigeria in general. The study used secondary sources of data and created a scholarly argument on the resolution of the armed conflict in the region, with specific reference to the problems of arms proliferation.