The Efficacy of Mediation and Negotiation Methods for Dispute Resolution in Delta State Umunadi,

The purpose of this study was to highlight the activities of youths, mediators and negotiators in various oil producing communities and oil companies in Delta State. Nine participants were selected from the institutions in Delta State and two resource persons were appointed from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). The research questions were on the methods utilized on dispute resolution in the Niger Delta, and on the mediation and negotiation methods for dispute resolution and their uses in the Niger Delta. The hypothesis was formulated on the significant differences between the opinions of male and female participants on knowledge gained from workshop/training organized for the participants by PTDF. Questionnaires and oral interviews were also used. The research questions were analyzed using the mean and standard deviation and t-test. The results of the study revealed that, the mediation method should be adopted in tackling disputes in the Niger Delta. It also revealed that the multinational companies are faced with huge difficulties with regards to handling the anger of the locals. Some of these problems have manifested in the form of kidnapping of oil company experts, tort claims. Based on these findings recommendations were made that PTDF should train personnel for the onerous task of dispute resolution.