NDA calls for Nigerian referendum

In the wake of a declining oil production, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) – the Nigerian militant group behind the oil and gas pipeline attacks – have recently demanded a referendum to break up the Nigerian federation.

The group, who have cut the countries oil production by 600 000 bpd, recently posted a map to Twitter, proposing that Nigeria could be separated into five smaller countries.

The NDA wrote: "President Muhammadu Buhari should call for a referendum to enable every Nigerian to vote if they want to stay as Nigerians or not, just like what David Cameron of Great Britain did.”

Chris Ngwodo, Security Specialist of the Niger Delta region, stated: "The government will have to think about how to reform the political architecture of the country. Nigeria is a uber-centralised state in many ways. There are elements of the civil society who have been calling for decentralisation. The government has to create a situation where communities have greater autonomy, greater say, over the management of their own resources."

Godspower Gbenekama, a member of the traditional ruling council in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, explained that should the government wish to end militancy, it needs to develop the delta.

He continued to state: "These are aggrieved Niger Delta people. Immediately after the issues of the Niger Delta are addressed, these criminal activities will end."

It seems, however, that the peace has been broken, when President Buhari recently canceled a trip to the region at the last minute. The trip was to start a cleanup operation in the Niger Delta.

Edited from various sources by Stephanie Roker

Sources: Oil Price, All Africa, Economy Watch, The Charlotte Observer

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/28062016/nda-calls-for-nigerian-referendum/