Academia Arena 2019;11(1) http://www.sciencepub.net/academia 1 Conflict Resolution in Nigeria: The Niger Delta Experience Izeoma C. Chinda and Frank O. Amugo Department of Foundation Studies, School of Foundation and General Studies, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Rumuola, P.M.B. 5936, Port Harcourt, Rivers State frankamugo@yahoo.com ; +2348037063542 Abstract: Conflict in the world has come to be accepted as a part of human growth and development. The Niger Delta of Nigeria is not an exception. Conflict could be seen as a situation characterized by confrontation and hostilities to secure strategic objectives among people with incompatible interests. In Nigeria, the Niger Delta region has found itself in the “web” of conflicts, spanning over about two and half decades, snowballing into sustained and pervading forms of youth sub-culture and restiveness. The subsisting conflict situation is alleged to stem from the clash of interest between Niger Delta people, oil multi-national companies, and the Nigerian State. The Government responses to crises have rather been punitive against the Niger Delta people. While the interventionist measures in the form of Development Agencies have not been successful, the Amnesty programme, which seemed to have brought some uncanny peace to the region is tentative, as the root causes of the conflicts are still pending. It is against this backdrop that this paper explores the possible ways and means of resolving the conflict through the prism of history and offering holistic and workable suggestions. [Izeoma C. Chinda and Frank O. Amugo. Conflict Resolution in Nigeria: The Niger Delta Experience. Academ Arena 2019;11(1):1-7]. ISSN 1553-992X (print); ISSN 2158-771X (online). http://www.sciencepub.net/academia . 1. doi:10.7537/marsaaj110119.01 . Keyword: Conflict, Militancy, Resolution, Niger Delta. 1. Introduction Deng (1997: 208) defined conflict as “a social situation in which at least two parties try to acquire the same set of scarce material or immaterial resources at the same time” (208). To this end, Zartman (1989) asserts that conflict is an inevitable aspect of human interaction, unavoidable concomitant of choices and decisions. The problem there is not to count the frustrations of seeking to remove inevitability but rather of trying to keep conflict in bonds. This is in consonance with Coser’s (1997: 8) conception of crisis or conflict as “a struggle over values and claims to status, power and resources in which the aims of the opponent are to neutralize, injure or eliminate their values”. Conflict is also seen as differences which arise between people necessitating change in at least one person in order for their engagement to continue and develop. These differences are not without some adjustments. Adejo (2004) observes that conflicts often follow their own courses and usually terminate in the reconciliation of the communities concerned. Such reconciliation restores society to, at least, some degree of or to continue to exist in a changed form. Conflict turns dreams of peace, unity and development into a nightmare. It is also characterized by hostilities and confrontations among people with incompatible interests. Conflicts are experienced in times great difficulties, restiveness, danger, lawlessness, uprising and so on, involving different groups, individuals in a community or a group of people and a constituted authority or among federating units. While conflict is normal in the sense that it does occur, it is far from being the best way of human interaction. People are more apt to cooperate and harmonize their compatibility than remaining in a crisis stage which signifies a breakdown of law and order. Thus, the resolution of the conflict will be apt in such situation. In conflict resolution, it is expected that the deep rooted sources of conflict are addressed and resolved, and behaviour is no longer violent, while the structure of the conflict has been changed, Maill (1999). However, Mitchell and Barks (1998) refer to conflict resolution as: (i) An outcome in which the issues in an existing conflict are satisfactorily dealt with through a solution that is mutually acceptable to the parties, self- sustaining in the long run and productive of a new positive relationship between parties that were previously hostile adversaries and; (ii) Any process by which such an outcome is achieved. It can be said that conflict resolution is where conflicting parties are mutually satisfied with the outcome of a settlement.