Coventry Cathedral calls for mediation in Niger Delta conflict

Coventry Cathedral’s peace and reconciliation ministry has said in a report that a neutral international mediator is needed to solve the conflict in the oil rich area of Nigeria's Niger Delta.

The group said, “A lack of trust between parties is the biggest obstacle to peace.” According to Bloomberg, the group said that a “sustained peace” was unlikely without the mediation.

Since 2006 crude oil exports from the region have dropped over 20 per cent, due to attacks by armed militias, kidnappings and the hijacking of vessels. Nigeria is the biggest oil producer in Africa and the fifth biggest oil exporter to the USA.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, (MEND), the main armed group in the region, has said it is fighting for the poor people of the region. Other smaller groups engage carry out kidnappings for the ransom money.

According to the report, widespread corruption in Nigeria is an “important conflict driver”.

“Efforts must be made to make peace seem the more attractive option to all parties...There must be efficient, fair and equitable delivery of justice.”

According to the report, MEND said it would disarm if the government agreed to a formal peace process.

Coventry Cathedral has been working on peace and reconciliation work since the Second World War, when the cathedral was bombed.