GPPAC Consultation in nigeria

National context
Often referred to as the ‘Giant of Africa’, Nigeria undoubtedly is a country of immense strategic importance in the West African sub-region, Africa, and the world. Nigeria has been a major player in conflict resolution and peacekeeping on the continent. With less than five months to the general elections in April 2007, the unfolding socio-political events have created an atmosphere of anxiety among Nigerians, Africans and the international community, concerning the fate of democracy in Nigeria. If the present situation were to escalate to crisis, it would reverse the prestige and standing of the nation in the maintenance of regional peace and security. 

In its 46 years of independence, Nigeria has had a chequered political history characterized by eight military regimes and three failed democratic attempts. These failures have been linked to weak democratic culture, and institutions and politics operating along ethnic and religious sentiments. Often, sectarian politics is seen by each ethnic or interest group in the country as the sure way to ensure its continuous survival and dominance.

For approximately one decade, the Nigerian government has been battling with wide spread violence amongst various communities as a result of perceived inability of the government reform policies to address social, economic and political needs. These issues are further compounded by: corrupt practices of some political office holders; continued “lack of faith” in the legal and security system; frequent attacks and assassinations; proliferation of small arms and gun running by political actors; human rights abuses and questions of legitimacy and trust of leadership. The aforementioned factors have acted as avenues for the expression of gross violence, resulting in the death of over 10,000 people in inter-communal violence and the displacement of more than 400,000[1] others, mostly women and children, in the past five years. Indeed, the state of human insecurity in the nation has taken on a worrisome dimension[2]. The rise of militant pressure groups seeking socio-political ‘space’ is a result of frustration or greed, as well as self seeking ambitions.

If this political crisis degenerates into violent conflict and leads to further international displacement of the citizens, the resultant humanitarian and security crisis will be unmanageable, destabilizing for the entire West and Central African sub-regions thereby affecting the entire continent. For a region that is continually grappling with peace and security issues, conflict in Nigeria will effectively destroy many of the achievements made in resolving conflicts in the sub-region. 

The Consultation
The Nigeria consultation took place from the 29^th to 30^th November, 2006.  A total of 22 participants representing various civil society organisations participated in the consultation.

The two-day consultation served as a platform for the CSOs represented to identify the current conflict issues that are seriously affecting the Nigerian socio-political environment, thus undermining Nigerian’s role as a key player in the socio-political life of the West African sub-region. Participants were divided into groups to identify major on-going or potential conflicts in Nigeria, analyse them and develop strategies for prevention. The following issues were identified: the Independence of the Electoral Commission and the 2007 general elections; the impeachment of Governors in Nigeria; Indigene/Settler Conflicts in Nigeria; the Niger Delta Crises; the Plateau Crisis (2004/2006); the crisis of legitimacy on Lagos roads; and the conflict between the students and the Ministry of Education. These issues have been a great source of worry within the country, and continue to pose a threat to Nigeria’s ability to thrive as an economic and political giant in Africa.

With regards to the 2007 elections, political tension continues to mount as several assassinations have occurred, while the threats continue. In addition, the Niger Delta crisis has intensified as kidnapping, assassinations, vandalisation of oil pipelines, the rise of ethnic militia, and arms proliferation continue to spread the shadow of insecurity and threat to human security throughout the region.  At the consultation, participants advocated strongly for a space to voice their concerns on the above issues affecting the populace and to propose possible solutions to dealing effectively and positively with the issues.

At the end of the consultation, participants drew up an action plan with specific time frame to implementing the GPPAC process in Nigeria.  An ad hoc committee, which will be facilitated by WANEP Nigeria, was set up to track the progress of the activities outlined in the action plan, as well as to oversee the implementation of the GPPAC process.