Oil Exploitation, Local Economy and Conflict in the Oil-Bearing Areas ofNigeria's Niger Delta

摘要

Half of the world's mineral dependent states areconcentrated in Sub-Sahara Africa. However, thesecountries lie at the lowest rank in comparativestatistics on human development. Some Africancountries, for example, Botswana and South Africa,have shown ample evidence that mineral wealth canbe turned into concrete development benefit ifproperly managed. Nigeria, sub-Sahara Africa'slargest oil producer is a classic illustration of naturalresources as a developmental trap. Oil wealthenriches Nigeria as a country, but it also aggravatesthe poverty and deprivation in the oil-bearing areasof the Niger Delta. Oil-bearing areas have beenfacing social and ecological risks which culminatedin the violence that have characterized the region.Literature has highlighted the consequences of oilexploitation such as violent communal crisis, youthrestiveness, government and oil-companies' brutalrepression. However, the actual nature of the effectof oil exploitation on the local economy has not beenestablished. Thus, this study examines the impact ofoil exploitation on the local economy and conflict inthe oil-bearing areas of the Nigeria's Niger Delta.This study made use of qualitative data obtainedthrough in-depth interviews with key informants andFocus Group Discussion (FGD). Oil-related activitieshave affected the people's livelihoods, food security,personal security, physical and mental health. Oilexploitation through environmental degradationdepleted fishing and farming output, resulting in thesubsequent loss of income base, therebyaccentuating poverty, which in turn created divisivetendencies leading to endemic social conflict. Anyeffort to eradicate poverty in the oil-bearing areasmust seek to revive and revitalize the traditionaleconomic activities. Providing viable employmentopportunities for the people, particularly the youth,and channelling their energies into the developmentof sustained livelihoods as well as natural resourcemanagement activities can reduce current tensionsand conflict in the oil-bearing areas of the NigerDelta, Nigeria.