THE IMPACT OF CONFLICT AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ON EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGER DELTA REGION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Conflict is a necessary element of human existence when societal change is required, but conflicts that create unhealthy kills, deprivation, and impair social security are inhuman and should be resisted and rejected.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with a population of around 140 million people and over 250 ethnic groupings.

The Niger-Delta region includes a network of hydrocarbon-rich waterways, lagoons, and mangrove swamp forests. It is estimated that the Niger-Delta region produces approximately 2.5 million barrels of crude oil per day. With this level of output, Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer and the world's sixth largest. Furthermore, these discoveries and production contribute to Niger-Delta accounting for nearly 95% of Nigeria's foreign exchange profits and 90% of its revenue (CBN, Annual report 2003). The Niger-Delta region is invariably vital and critical to Nigeria and the international community.

Initially, the Niger-Delta region consisted of only six states: Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers, which were dispersed across Nigeria's coastal edges. The phrase Niger-Delta area now refers to all of the states that produce crude oil, with Abia, Imo, and Ondo joining the previous six.

Because of the intricacy and diverse character of the situation in Nigeria's oil-producing towns, it is more appropriate to describe it as a "crisis within a crisis." Inter and intracommunity relations in the Niger-Delta region have recently been marked by a high incidence of conflict and violence. Beginning in December 1992, the battle between Ogonis and the oil infrastructure grew more serious and intense on both sides. In May 1994, military repression became more severe. On May 21, soldiers and mobile police officers appeared in the majority of Ogoni settlements. On that day, four Ogoni chiefs were brutally slain (all of whom were on the conservative side of a rift within MOSOP over strategy). Following the death of four Ogoni elders in May 1994, nine activists from the movement known as 'The Ogoni Nine,' including Ken Saro-Wiwa, were arrested and charged with inciting to murder. Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues rejected the claims, but were imprisoned for over a year before being found guilty and condemned to death on November 10, 1995, by a specially convened tribunal hand-picked by General Sani Abacha. The activists were denied due process and were executed by hanging by the Nigerian state after being found guilty.

The Warri ethnic war, which began in March 1997, killed hundreds of lives. Violence and warfare have also been reported between the Urhobos and the Itsekiris, as well as between several Isoko groups in Delta state and distinct Ijaw tribes in Bayelsa state. In Ondo state, the Ogonis have clashed with the Andonis, while the Ijaws have clashed with the Yoruba populations. Violence between communities has also been recorded in Akwa Ibom State. Since around 1990, the level of hatred and suspicion among the various communities in the Niger-Delta has been on the rise. Ken-Saro Wiwa (1990) forewarned about the escalation of inter-communal violence in the Niger-Delta region in an article titled "The Coming War in the Delta." As he put it at the time, "the smoldering battle in the Delta claimed its first lives about three weeks ago, six dead I, twenty injured." I had predicted it in 1988 and had given adequate warning. I am afraid that war will break out unless immediate action is taken to defuse the situation.... I must advise the Delta communities to refrain from resorting to violence in their just quest for their rights...

The 'worst is yet to come,' as Saro-Wiwa predicted, has not only arrived, but has deteriorated to the point where the various communities in the Niger-Delta are characterized by tension, violence, mistrust, and attempts by each community to demonstrate that it is first among the exploited and despoiled victims of the Niger-Delta.

While highlighting the growth in inter and intracommunity violence, it should be noted that the interaction between communities in the Niger-Delta was defined by conflict.

The researcher is interested in examining the disputes in the Niger Delta region and determining how conflicts in the Niger-Delta areas can be properly controlled by eradicating the problems that people in the zone experience.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.

Despite their contributions to Nigeria's development, the inhabitants of the Niger-Delta region have faced massive social and economic infrastructure neglect, poverty, frustrations, ecological disasters, and other deprivations. It is vital to emphasize that the ongoing crisis in the Niger-Delta region has had a significant impact on educational production. Conflict puts vulnerable children in grave danger. It has the potential to displace students, demolish schools, and disrupt the educational system. Children may be denied access to a good and safe education if no action is taken. Good education rarely survives catastrophic conflicts like the one in the Niger Delta. Students and instructors are frequently forced to escape as school facilities are damaged or taken over by armed forces, vital educational funding resources are diverted to military activities, teachers' paychecks are diverted, and materials stop arriving at schools. Conflict in the Niger-Delta region has driven many people to evacuate their homes and end up living in temporary housing with no access to schools. The continual migration complicates schooling and makes it impossible to build schools. As the disagreement continues, the desire to attend school decreases, and the demand for educational growth declines as focus shifts to how to resolve the conflict. The purpose of this research is to look into the effects of conflict on educational productivity in the Niger-Delta region.

1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY

This study centred on the implications of conflict on the educational productivity in the Niger-Delta regions. Although, there are many reasons and counter ones for these conflicts, the investigator showed the root cause of the problems and how to effectively curb the problems of the inhuman activities occurring in the zone. This study found out if such conflicts are necessary. Therefore, the study examined:

1. The reasons for conflicts and the effects on the educational productivity in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria.

2. The ways by-which these conflicts can be managed or controlled for there to be educational development in the Niger-Delta region.

3. The role of education in reducing the persistent conflicts in the Niger-Delta region.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were answered during the course of the study:

1. Are socio-economic and cultural factors responsible for the conflict in the Niger-Delta region?

2. Is political factor the reason for the conflict in the Niger-Delta region?

3. Is attitudinal factor the reason for the conflict in the Niger-Delta region?

4. Has conflict affected the educational programmes of students in the Niger-Delta region?

5. Is provision of employment in the Niger-Delta region a solution?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Because this study focused on the effects of conflicts on educational productivity in the Niger-Delta region, its findings will help enlighten society on the effects of conflict on educational development and what needs to be done to manage the situation in order for there to be development in society at large.

This research will serve to raise awareness among government officials on the importance of investigating the plight of the Niger-Delta people. Furthermore, this study will inform and alert the people of the Niger-Delta that conflict is detrimental to educational productivity and development in the region, as well as providing important information for others who seek to conduct research in this sector.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to only the Niger-Delta indigenes, the ‘youths and adults’ such as parents, married and singles alike resident in Niger-Delta region.

1.7 Limitation of study

Finance,inadequate materials and time constraint were the challenges the researchers encountered during the course of the study

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms have been operational defined as they were used during the course of study.

1. Conflict: Conflict is a situation in which people, groups or countries are involved in a serious disagreement and argument. It is also the argument related to the Political, Religious, Judicial, Economy and other spheres of the society.

2. Education: This is a formal process of teaching and learning usually at school, college or university.

3. Conflict Management: It means the various ways to bring to an end the raging war or dispute among warring factions such as groups, society, states or even nations.

4. Adult: An adult is a person that is physically mature. It is also, a person that is not less than 18 years. That is, someone that is 18 years and above.