. "Conflict in the Niger delta : more than a local affair" . . . . "This report, sponsored by the Centers of Innovation at the US Institute of Peace (USIP), draws on the experiences of the author and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) over the past four years in the Niger Delta. During this period, conflict has escalated significantly while governance indicators, for the most part, have stubbornly refused to improve. The first steps in this report were taken more than a year ago, well before ill health weakened and then led to the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar'adua. At present, few things are certain about Nigeria or the Niger Delta, and stability is a key concern for international actors. This report argues that the quest for stability is counterproductive. The region has not been trapped in the fossilized state that has crumbled only recently in North Africa. Change from the status quo is inevitable; the question is whether the region will be trapped in deepening cycles of violence or whether sundry actors can assist in making a remarkable break with the recent past." . . . . . . . . . "Conflict in the Niger delta more than a local affair" . . . . "Since 2007" . . "Nigeria" . .