SUMMARY REPORT 2016 NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT FORUM “TOWARDS SELF SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA: NARRATING AND SHOWCASING A RE-IMAGINED NIGER DELTA.”

Wednesday October 19 – Thursday, October 20, 2016

Owerri, Imo State

ReportwrittenbyTeriOdjeni,Analysis&AdvocacyOfficerEditedbyEseEmerhi,AdvocacyProgramManager

FoundationforPartnershipInitiativesintheNigerDelta(PIND)

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1. NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT FORUM

Niger Delta Development Forums envision a NigerDelta where all persons are able to live sustainablelivelihoods, generate income and employment, andcreate economic opportunities unhindered byconstraintsfromwithinandoutsidethemarketsystemin the region and beyond. The forums are catalyticinformationsharingandcollaborationopportunitiesforgovernment, private sector, and civil societyorganizations pursuing approaches for equitable andinclusive economic growth in the Niger Delta. NDDFalsoprovidesaplatformtoconnectwithotherpartnersto collectively pursue improved development policiesandpractices in theNigerDelta.TheForum is rotatedamongtheNigerDeltastates.The1steditionofNDDFwasheldinPortHarcourt,RiversStatein2012;the2ndin Benin City, Edo State in 2013; the 3rd in Calabar,

CrossRiverStatein2014;the4thinAsaba,DeltaStatein2015whilethemostrecenteditionwasinOwerri,ImoStatein2016.SimilarforumswereheldinWashington,DC(2014,2015)andLondon(2015).NDDF2016washeld inOwerri, Imostatewithathemeof“TowardsSelfSustainingDevelopmentintheNigerDelta:NarratingandShowcasingaRe-ImagedNigerDelta.”For2016, thesituation for theNigerDeltawasquitedire; theregionwasincrisis–politically,economically,socially,andenvironmentally.Thecollapseoftheglobaloilpricehastakenits toll thehardeston thenine statesof theNigerDelta, resulting in anewemergenceof violencebynewmilitancygroups.DespitenumerouseffortsbyeitherindependentorganizationsorbytheFederalGovernmentinconveningkeystakeholders in the region to collectively explore the imperativesof inclusive economic growth in anenvironmentofdwindlingoilprices,littleheadwayhasbeenachievedordocumentedonafirmwayforwardfortheregion. Developmentisacomplexandmulti-disciplinaryprocess,andperhapsthefirststepinarticulatingawayforwardfortheregionisinre-imaginingapossiblefuture,beginningwithchangingthenarrativeoftheNigerDelta.ANigerDeltathatranks high in inclusive citizen participation in governance; where state governments operate with the concepts oftransparency,accountability,andeffectivenessat theforefront;wherediversity ineconomicpursuitsarechampionedbystategovernmentsandexecutedopenly;andaregionthatnolongergrappleswithviolencebutwherepeacereigns.Whatare the stepsneeded tomove the region in thisdirection, towardsactionandaccountabilityon thepartof allstakeholders,notjustgovernments? NDDFOwerritackledthebroadissuesofpeace,regionalcohesiveness,digitaleconomyandclimatechange.Leveragingthe tradition of a value-added space where interested and committed development actors - public, private sector,development practitioners, and international development actors alike - convene to take actions to promote growthwhileseizingthehugeopportunitytoinfluencethedevelopmentagendafortheregion.NDDFOwerriwasorganizedbytheNigerDeltaPartnershipInitiative(NDPI)Foundation,theFoundationforPartnershipInitiativesintheNigerDelta(PIND),ImoStateGovernment,andmembersoftheDEMANDALLIANCE.

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2.REGIONAL COHESIVENESS: THE ROLE OF FEDERAL, REGIONAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

“There isa liewehavebeen toldandwehavebelievedtoourdetriment–thattheprivate sector would drive the engine ofdevelopment.” Dr. Otive Igbuzor, CenterLSD.

• TheNigerDeltaneedsmoreofabottom-upapproachwithstronglinkageswithcommunitybenefitssystemsofgovernancethatempowersthemandassiststheminevolving[tothechangingtimes].Suchamodelwilldependon shared opportunities and inclusive growth that materially improves the livelihoods of the people [of theNigerDelta].

• ThefactorsthatprohibitcohesivenessoftheNigerDeltaarenotdifferentfromthefactorsthataffectNigeriaasa nation – competition amongst themember states and unaligned interventionist agencies seems to be theorderofthedayinsteadofcollaboration.

o Roleof the regional interventionbodies should focusonhowtoescalate theworkofmemberstates,insteadofsimplyreplicatingthem.Thefailureoftheseregionalinterventionbodies,likethePresidentialAmnestyProgram,isintheircontinuousprovisionofpalliativesandpoorconceptualization.

o The region must begin to look inward to build its own resources rather than look elsewhere for itsresources,andinlookinginwards,wemustbegintobuildlocalandregionalaccountabilityframeworksaspartoftheprocess.

o TheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsmustbe lookedat as amodel to follow indeveloping the regionbecauseitprovidesanavenueforthemeasurementofprogress,transparencyandaccountability.

• Lackofinfrastructureiskeytounlockingtheproblemoflackofinvestmentopportunitiesintheregion;currenttradingroutesandcomplextradingzoneslimittradewithinandoutsidetheregion.

• Increased domestic security would create an economy of its own, but the main challenge is implementingsecurityinitiativesinaneconomicandpoliticalenvironmentthatthrivesoninstabilityandinsecurity.

• A clearer definition of what constitutes the Niger Delta is needed – is it the original oil producing states ofBayelsa,Rivers,andDelta,orthesixstatesthattheBRACEDCommissionismandatedtoprovideservicesfor,orwhatisknownastheSouth-Southregion?ThecreationofthecontextofwhatwenowknowastheNigerDeltastateswascreatedbyNDDCandthiscontexthasgivenrisetodifferentperceptionsandinterpretationsoftheregionthathasaddedtothedivisivenessthatwearecurrentlyexperiencing.

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3. PEACE, CONFLICT MITIGATION, ELECTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT

“In designing programs for violent youths, aspecial focus on the rehabilitation of womenmust be given priority too... involvement ofwomen in the rehabilitation process will helpspeed up the healing process.” Emem Okon,KebekatcheWomenDevelopmentFoundation

• TheFederalgovernmentneedstotackletheissueoftheNigerDeltafromitsroots,andtheissueoftheregionisanissueofdevelopment.

• Deepening the practice of democratic governance, which involves organizing and implementing credibleelections,isoneofthefundamentalsolutionstothechallengesoftheNigerDelta(andNigeriaasawhole).

• ThePresidentialAmnestyProgramshould focusoneffective reintegrationof theyouthsandwomenasakeystrategyincurbingrestiveness.

o Theprogramwasmeant todisarm,demobilizeand reintegrate violent youths,however, theprogramhasonlybeensuccessfulinthedisarmamentanddemobilizationcomponentsofitsmandate.Themostcriticalpart,reintegration,hasnotbeencarriedout.

o Addressingthesocioeconomicissueswillcreatetheenablingenvironmenttofasttrackingreintegration.TheFederalgovernmentshouldalsostartdesigningprogramstargetedatnonviolentyouth.

o Wehaveoverlookedvictimsofviolenceduringthereintegrationprocessandpeacecannotbeachievedwithoutproperjustice.

• There is a need to understand the changing role of political actorswhen it comes to elections in the region;voters/civiceducationshouldbedoneearlyandoftenandnotinthecurrent“rushhour”methoditiscurrentlydonetoensurethatallstakeholdersareproperlyeducatedinatransparentandcohesivemanner.

o Theelectoratetoaidinaccountabilityshouldfundelectionfinancing.• Ending corruption is a fundamental step to ending the crisis in the Niger Delta and it can only be possible

throughdemocraticprocesses.

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4. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE GREEN ECONOMY

“Environmental issues do not haveboundaries...it is not limited to theNigerDelta. Climate change is not an emergingthreat; it is already here with us.” Dr.PeterIdabor,DG,NOSRArepresentingtheMinister of Environment, AminaMohamed.

• Thechallengesoftheenvironmentaldamagetotheregionaremultitude–challengesfromcontinuousoilspillsonlandandwaterthatdestroyentireecosystems,andillegalactivitiesofsaboteursandoilpipelinevandalsthatonlydeepenthedamageandleadtolossofinvestorconfidenceintheregion.

• AdvocacyeffortsbyCSOsshouldnotonlyfocusonthefederalandstategovernmentsandIOCs,butonyouthsinvolvedindestroyingoilpipelines.

• The Ministry of Environment is currently working to change the narrative of how people perceive theenvironmentthroughempoweringlocalcommunities,andinregulatingandmanagingtheenvironmentalissuessuch as erosion, desertification, climate change, oil spillage, and gas flaring. The Ministry is also devisingstrategiesand frameworksandentering intopartnershipswithdonorsandCSOsalike toachieve its statutorymandate.

• Thepromiseofagreeneconomyisto‘decouple’economicgrowthfrombothgreateruseofnaturalresourcesanddamagetotheenvironmentthroughthedevelopmentofnewproducts,processes,andservicesandanewwayoflife.

o Achieving a green economy, however, will not be cheap. There are international funds that can betappedintoforprojectsifcollaborationandpartnershiponalllevelsareleveraged.

o ClimatechangecurriculumshouldbeintroducedintoSecondaryschoolsandUniversitiestoteachyoungpeopleabouttheeffectsofenvironmentaldamageandtheroletheycanplay.

o Infinancingthegreeneconomy,theremustbeaconnectionbetweentheinvestorsexpectationwiththeneedofthelocaleconomy.

o Youthunemployment canbe tackledbyharnessing the technology available throughopportunities inthegreeneconomy.

• The past year has revealed the limitations of oil; we need re-imagine the Niger Delta beyond oil. The greeneconomy is an emerging space for us to rewrite and create the rules of engagement that takes intoconsideration perspectives from all stakeholders – from local communities to private sector, from federalgovernmenttointernationalbodies,andfromCSOstoyouths.

• AkwaIbomisleadingthewayinthegreeneconomychallengebypromotingacleancityanddrivinglowcarbonemissionsbysettingupalowenergybulbfactorytocontributetotheirquotaofreducingemission/lowcarbonsintotheenvironment.

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5. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

“The recent recession being experienced by thecountryasaresultofthedwindlingoilrevenueisapointer that the nation needs to diversify itseconomy. If we really want to grow and diversifytheeconomy,asindividuals,weneedtofirstrelyontechnology.” Tosin Akingbade, Price Water HouseCooper(PWC).

• Theprivatesectorcantaketheleadininitiatingandusingdigitaltechnologytopromote‘start-ups’intheNigerDeltathatusetechnologytosolvemanyofsocietieschallenges.

• Government and corporate institutions should partner with technology experts to develop systems that cansupportthecollectionoffarmersinformationforthepurposesofpropertrackingofthequantityandqualityofproduce, authentication of farmers and for planning /implementation of business development and supportservices.

• Inthinkingofdiversification,thefollowingsectorsshouldbetargeted:o Agriculture–howcanweensureviabilityofallvaluechainsinthissector?Nigeriacannolongerafford

toimportthemajorityofwhatweeat;wepossessover84millionacresoflandwith60%currentlynotcultivated.

§ Private sector players in the agriculture sector should plug technology into the existingprocessesacrosstheagriculturalvaluechainswithintheregion.

o Nollywood–keylessonstobelearnedfromtheNollywoodindustryisthati)theyinvolvedyouthsandcreatedentryjobsforthem,withongoingleadershipandmentorshipandii)theuseoftechnologyhasexpanded the opportunities and possibilities for the industry, making it one of the fastest growingindustriesinNigeriatoday.

o Telecoms–Nigeriahasgrowntremendouslysincethe introductionofmobiletechnology. Themarketwasallowedtoevolveorganicallywithverylimitedrulesinthebeginning.

§ Stringentregulations,however,willcripplethisindustryifnotchallengedateveryfront.o Retail – the retail sector will thrive with the involvement of youth since Nigeria consumes a lot of

packagedgoods.PrivatesectorcanthriveonICTinitiativestoenhancedeliveryandboostexportation.