VOlUME 04 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2025
1Austin Onyebuchi UCHEGBU, 2Goodluck Odimegwu Obi, 3Olusola Mathew OJO
1,2,3Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2025.v4i1n08Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
The quest for social peace and development, referred to as the effort to enhance the wellbeing of people in society has remained a concern in the conflict-affected oil producing communities in Imo State. Looking at the 11th and 16th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which focus on making human societies inclusive, safe, resilient and peaceful; the underlying understanding is that social conditions constitute the vital components of sustainable development. Sadly, these goals are significantly hampered by constant and widespread violent conflicts and extremism in the oil producing communities. The communities have remained a tale of poverty, squalor, and gross underdevelopment in the midst of plenty, due to environmental degradation which has continued to impact negatively on the people’s means of livelihood. To address the challenges posed by violent conflicts and destructive impacts, this study interrogates the need for mainstreaming peacebuilding in development of conflict-affected oil producing communities in Imo State. The study employed a qualitative research methodology, using secondary data from journals and published articles. The theoretical framework of the peacebuilding and economic growth, developed by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) was adopted. Findings of the study revealed that social losses attributable to violent conflicts especially, in developing oil producing communities call for development initiators to consider the mutual interface of peace and development. The study concludes that mainstreaming peacebulding in development of oil producing communities in Imo State will encourage sustainability and therefore recommends that conflict-sensitive development programmes should be promoted, and development intervention initiators should focus on the root causes and dynamics of conflict in the oil producing communities.
KEYWORDS:Peacebuilding, Development, Conflict, Hazards, Communities, Imo State, Nigeria
REFERENCES
1) Adano, W., Dietz, T., Witsenburg, K. M., & Zaal, F (2012). Climate Change, Violent Conflict and Local Institutions in Kenya’s dry lands. Journal of Peace Research, 49(1), 65-80.
2) Ahmadu, J., & Egbodion, J (2013). Effect of Oil Spillage on Cassava production in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2013, 3(4), 914-926.
3) Bebbington, A & Williams, M (2008). Water and Mining Conflicts in Peru. Mountain Research and Development, 28 (3/4), 190-195.
4) Best S (2006) Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies in West Africa: A reader. Spectrum.
5) Bruch, C., Muffett, C & Nicholas, S.S (2016). Natural Resources and Post-Conflict Governance: Building a Sustainable Peace. In C. Bruch, C, Muffett & S.S Nicholas (Eds.), Governance, Natural Resources, and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding , 1-31. London: Earthscan.
6) Budnuka, A. C., Cliton, A & Agi-Ottoh, C (2015). The effect of unplanned exploitation of environmental resources: The Nigeria’s experience. Journal of Environmental Pollution and Human Health, 3(2), 39-45.
7) Chandler, D (2019). Security through Societal resilience: Contemporary challenges in the Anthropocene. Contemporary Security Policy. online ahead of print.
8) Dode, C (2007). Incident of Hostage Taking and the Niger Delta Crises in Nigeria. South-South Journal of Culture and Development. 9, 162-167.
9) Galtung, J (1976). Three Approaches to Peace: Peacekeeping, Peacemaking, and Peacebuilding. Peace, War and Defense: Essays in Peace Research, 11, 297-298. Copenhagen: Christian Ejlars.
10) Hoeffler, A., Ijaz, S. S & von Billerbeck, S (2010). Post-Conflict Recovery and Peacebuilding. Background Paper for the World Bank Development Report. Retrieved from https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitsream/handle/10986/9184/WDR 2011-0010.pdf.
11) Ibeanu, O (2005). Our Mothers'courage Silenced All Guns:Women And Conflict in the Niger Delta. University of Nigeria ,Journal of Political Economy, 1(1): 52 – 73. Department of Political Science. University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
12) Ide, T (2019). The Impact of Environmental Cooperation on Peacebuilding: Definitions, Mechanisms and Empirical Evidence. International Studies Review, 21(3), 327-346.
13) Iheriohanma, F.B.J (2016). Youth, Politico! Violence and Crises Management in South East of Nigeria. A Sociological Review Paper Presented at a four-Day Conference of the Nigerian Political Associations, South East Chapter.
14) Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (2003). The Strategic Conflict Assessment: Zonal Consolidated Report, Abuja: IPCR.
15) Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies (2024). What is Strategic Peacebuilding? Accessed.
https://kroc.edu/about-us/what-is-peace-studies/what-is-strategic-peacebuilding/29/05/24.
16) Lederach, J. P (1997). Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies. Washington, D.C: US. Institute of Peace Press.
17) Mathew, R (2014). Integrating Climate Change into Peacebuilding. Climate Change, 123(1), 83-93.
18) Micheilof, S; Kostner, M & Devictor, X (2002) Post-Conflict recovery in Africa: An agenda for the African Region. African Region Working Paper Series No. 30. New Encyclopedia Britain Micropaedia Knowledge in Depth (1480) Vol. 16. Encyclopedia Britainica Inc. USA.
19) Nriagu, J., Udofia, E A., Ekong, I & Ebuk, G (2016). Health risks associated with oil pollution in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(3), 346.
20) Obserchall, A (1978). Theories of Social Conflict. Annual Review of Sociology, 4(1):291-315.
21) OECD (2010). Peacebuilding and State building Priorities and Challenges: A Synthesis of findings from Seven Multi-stakeholder Consultations. Retrieved from https://www.pbsbdialogue.org/documentupload/45454619.pdf 14th April, 2019.
22) Seers, D (1969). Meaning of Development. A paper presented at the 11th World Conference of the Security for International Development. New Delhi, India.
23) Strancham, A.C (2013). Peacebuilding and Economic growth (GSRC Helpdesk Research Report 1044). Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of Birmingham.
24) Todaro, M. P (1977). Economic for Development World. London: Sterling Publishers.
25) United Nations (2011). Civilian Capacity in the After of Conflict: Independent Report of the Senate Advisory Group. New York: UN, 2011. Accessed December, 15, 2018. https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/civilian _capacity _aftermath _of _conflict _independence _report _senate _advisory _group _a65747 _s201185.
26) UNEP (2017). United Nations Environment Launches, 2016 annual report. online.In.
27) UNEP (2009). From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the
28) Environment. Nairobi: UNEP, 2009. http://post-conflict.unep.ch/publications/pcdmb-policy-01.pdf.
29) U N G A (2016). Resolution 70/262. A/RES/ 70/262, April 27, 2016.
30) U N SC (2016). Resolution 2282.S/RES/2282. April 27, 2016.
31) UNSG (U N. Secretary-General) (1992). Agenda for Peace: Preventive Diplomacy,
32) Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping. Report of the Secretary-General Pursuant to the Statement adopted by the Summit Meeting of the Security Council on 31 January 1992. A/47/277-/s/2411. Jun 17, 1992. https://peaceoperatiionsreview.org/wpcontent/uploads /2015/08/an-agenda-for-peace-1992.pdf.
33) UNSG (2005). In large freedom: Towards Development, Security, and Human Rights for all.
34) Report of the Secretary-General. Addendum Peacebuilding Commission: Explanatory Note by the Secretary-General. A/59/2005/Add2. New York, May, 23, 2005.
35) UNSG (2010). Progress Report of the Secretary-General on Peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of Conflict. A/64/866-S/2020/386. July 16, 2010.
36) Vande, P.T (2019). Mainstreaming Peacebuilding in Development Planning: Implications for the Agenda 2030 in Nigeria. Readings in Peace and Conflict, 544-554, 2019.
37) Vivekananda, J., Shilling, J.S., Smith, D (2014). Climate Resilience in Fragile and Conflict-affected Societies: Concepts and approaches. Development in Practice, 24(4), 487-501.
38) World Bank (2011). World Development Report, 2011: Conflict, Security, and Development.
39) Washington, D. C: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank, 2011.
VOlUME 04 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2025
Indexed In
