Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 370: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the Niger Delta humanitarian crisis in which mass killings have occurred; the steps the international community is taking to deal with the issues of ethnic cleansing; if Ireland has repatriated asylum seekers to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14856/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

While attacks against oil installations in the Niger Delta region have occurred for a number of years, and while the level and intensity of these attacks have increased significantly since the start of 2006, it would not be correct to characterise these events as mass killings or ethnic cleansing.

The growing insecurity and violence highlights long-standing problems of lack of development in the Niger Delta region and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the allocation of oil revenues. The Irish Ambassador to Nigeria has participated, together with his EU counterparts, in a number of visits to the region. The EU Ambassadors are seeking to engage local State and community leaders in dialogue in order to discuss how the problems of the Delta region can better be addressed. Federal and state authorities can also contribute to tackling the problems of the Niger Delta, through putting in place a long-term development plan for the region. On 18 April, President Obasanjo inaugurated the presidential committee on socio-economic development of the Niger Delta which brings together a panel of high level officials to recommend to him specific projects for rapid development of the region in the near future. The President promised that thousands of new jobs will be created in the oil industry, the military and the police, and that a US$1.8 billion motorway will be built.

As regards the specific violence in the region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has claimed responsibility for a series of serious incidents, including attacks against security forces and the kidnapping of expatriate oil workers. In mid-January, four police officers and eight assailants were killed in one incident. MEND is demanding the release of two local leaders, including the former Governor of Bayelsa state who is currently facing corruption charges, as well as greater local control over oil wealth and the sum of $1.5 billion for the clean up of the local environment. MEND has claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack on an army barracks in Port Harcourt in which two civilians died on 19 April. The campaign waged by MEND has contributed to a significant reduction of more than 20% in Nigerian oil production since the start of the year. Close attention must be paid to the Niger Delta situation when considering any plans for possible deployment of an EU election observation mission, in the context of next year's national elections in Nigeria.

As regards the repatriation of unsuccessful asylum applicants to Nigeria, this is an issue for which the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility. Individuals so repatriated are normally flown to a major national centre such as Lagos and may subsequently remain in this national centre or travel wherever they wish within Nigeria.