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The Effect Of Niger Delta Crisis On Socio-political Development Of Nigeria
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The Niger Delta region is located in the Southern part of Nigeria. The
region is characterized by Swamps and high rainforest but through which
the Niger River flows into the Atlantic Ocean multiple estuaries. The
Niger Delta region is Nigeria’s treasure base. It represents the
country’s economic heartbeat endeared with petroleum often referred to
as the precious black-gold which earns over 90% of the country’s
revenue. For over five decades, all the oil exploration and exploitation
in the country had taken place within this region.
Expectedly, the occupation of the inhabitants of this region is
predominantly farming and fishing taking advantage of the presence of
the rich rainforest and large body of water.
According to
Abati (2009:54) Nigeria Delta refers to the states of Cross River, Ondo,
Imo, Abia, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta but more directly
the last four states which face more peculiar problems. It is one of the
largest wetland in the world and clearly, the largest inAfrica.
It is a trite point that oil is important to the world as a major
source of energy. Anywhere in the world where the vehicles tank is being
filled with gasoline, or an engine is being run with diesel or any
other fuel, a lantern or store is being filled with kerosene, or any
petroleum based product is being used, there is a linkage to a complex
process that involves exploration, refining, high-tech engineering and
technology, human and material resources, the politics of nations and
the rights and expectations of human beings.
Nigeria is at the
centre of this process as the sixth largest producer of oil in the
world and the largest oil producing country in Africa.
Oil was
first discovered in Nigeria in 1908 but commercial exploration did not
commence until the discovery of oil in Olobiri (now in BayelsaState) in
march 1957 (Abati 2009:54).
Nigeria’s inability to develop local
capacity in oil exploration and to acquire the required technology, has
made it
possible
for the multinational corporations engage in joint venture partnerships
with it to get way with lopsided contractual agreements.
Nigeria is fully aware of its importance as an oil producing country and
almost all the wealth that came the way of the country last fifty years
(50 years) or more has been derived from oil.
However, before
the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta, every region in Nigeria has
means of generating wealth for development of their regions. There was
great competition among the regions to see which would surpass the
other in terms of development.
But the discovery of oil and the oil boom suddenly put an end to this as all Nigeria wanted a share of the national cake.
In the 1963 constitution, derivation was fifty percent (50%) and
federal government got only thirty percent (30%). The same constitution
granted the ownership of the continental shelf to the regions. By 1966,
this had been constructively jettisoned controlling Nigeria oil
resources became the federal government’s compulsive obsession. The
civil war further exposed the strategic value of the oil resources in
Niger Delta and as the military seized control of power and politics,
exercising control over oil and revenue became a major task. In 1970,
derivation had been reduced to forty five percent. (45%).
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The purpose of this study is to know the factors that influence the Niger Delta crisis and its implication on Socio-political development of Nigeria. The study continued to evaluate the extent of damages the Niger Delta Crisis lure on political development of the nation. The crisis are a threat to both local and foreign investors. The researcher after various investigation and the researcher’s findings about the Niger Delta crisis, the researcher concluded that the crisis is as a result o ... Continue reading---
