International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Niger Delta Conflict and the Challenge of Oil Security in Nigeria
Malachy Chidike Igwilo
Bells University of Technology, PMB 1015, Ota, Ogun State. Nigeria.
Abstract: This paper is concerned with the current unrest bedeviling Nigeria’s oil industry which is very instructive in terms of the threat it poses to the entire nation and the world. There is a sign that the crisis is still in its infancy in terms of its potentials to intensify leading to a full scale civil war in the region and possibly the whole country. This creates a great problem for Nigerian government, since disturbances in the oil flow is affecting the fragile but growing economy, and for the world since the general oil supply to the world may be disrupted to a disturbing proportion. In the face of this now monumental problem, there is still a lack of understanding of the interplay between geography and politics and between resources and conflict on the part of the Nigerian government such that their posturing and interventions will necessarily further the conflict and threaten security further rather than ameliorate it. This paper using the philosophical methods of analysis, criticism and theorizing, is submitting that in the present situation, there is a need for a clearer understanding of the conflict to better deal with the problem. It is the position of this paper that the current crisis requires a deep reassessment of government’s understanding of the region to better secure oil flows and also avoid full scale civil war.
Keywords: Oil, Conflict, politics, geography, economy, security
I.INTRODUCTION
The Niger delta conflict in Nigeria has become an international conflict in terms of its global implications, especially as it concerns oil production and distribution. In Nigeria itself, Niger delta is an important life blood of the country’s economy. Apart from this, the region contributes to the cultural diversity and beauty of the country since it is inhabited by more than 40 ethnic minorities and with a population of 31million people . Nigeria having become independent in 1960 showed a huge potential as an economic giant in the West African sub region, and indeed in the whole of Africa, through high agricultural productivity rate. But sometime in the middle 70s, crude oil was discovered and marketed in commercial quantity awashing the country in petro-dollars and also damaging the agricultural sector. Since the 70s, Nigeria has made several billions of dollars from crude oil sales. Making this much money comes with a price for Nigeria; it fragmented the country into various axis and increased disenchantment among the various ethnic groups in the country, especially those in the southern part of the country. This disenchantment arises from the wanton fiscal irresponsibility of the successive Nigerian governments and the wild-cat drilling of crude oil and abuse of the environment going on in the Niger delta. This disenchantment is now threatening the very fabric of the nation and the oil industry