Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Presidential Amnesty Program in Curbing Youth Restiveness in the Niger Delta: A Conflict Transformation Perspective

The persistence of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta despite over a decade of implementation of the amnesty program reflects unresolved grievances rooted in marginalization, unemployment, and uneven development. This study examines the effectiveness of the amnesty programme in addressing youth restiveness in the Niger Delta. Its objectives are to evaluate the extent to which these interventions have reduced youth violence, fostered reintegration, and delivered socio-economic benefits to affected communities. Anchored in Conflict Transformation Theory, the study argues that sustainable peace in post-conflict societies must go beyond silencing violence to transforming the underlying structural injustices that drive conflict. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining structured questionnaires administered to 200 respondents comprising ex-militants and non-militant community youths in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States with insights from relevant policy documents and secondary sources. Findings reveal partial success in disarmament and demobilization: while 92% of ex-militants enrolled in PAP and 85% received demobilization training, only 61% completed reintegration due to unmet promises, irregular stipends, and limited employment support. Unemployment remains widespread, affecting 48% of ex-militants and 38% of non-militant youths, while just 15% benefited from formal government empowerment schemes. However, the paper also reveals that there was a 63% reduction of violent activities, and a 72% resurgence of conflict based to government incentives being stopped. Additionally, there were 71% visible development projects in the area under study with little impact on people, and 80% deep distrust in the government's sincerity and transparency. Non-militant youths, in particular, felt excluded and marginalized by PAP, creating new community tensions. The paper recommends that the federal government of Nigeria should reform and expand the amnesty program to address the current realities of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta. This would give room for the reintegration of ex-militants who were excluded from the presidential amnesty program. This would also provide updated, market-relevant vocational and entrepreneurial training for ex-militants in the area under study. The government should strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms for the handlers of the program. Annual impact reports should also be published to promote transparency and allow citizens to track the progress and effectiveness of the programme