TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND PEACE-BUILDING IN THE NIGERIA'S NIGER DELTA

Abstract

This paper examined the role of Traditional Institutions in peace building in the Nigeria's Niger Delta. It adopted the sustainable peace building theoretical framework and relied on qualitative data, with extensive utilization of archives, texts, journal articles, monographs, magazines, and relevant web pages. The analysis was purely descriptive and content based (i.e content analysis), wherein inferences were drawn. It reveals that the role traditional institutions played in promoting and building peace in their respective domain are in diverse dimensions; which include promoting coexistence and harmony, reducing arms proliferation, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkery activities, kidnapping, sea piracy, among several others in the Nigeria's Niger Delta. It thus, suggest among others that traditional institutions should be furnished with all necessary assistance (including training, funding, freedom from political inducement and a working relationship with the State Security outfits) to enhance their role in peace building and maintenance of law and order within the confines of their jurisdictions in the Nigeria's Niger Delta.