Nigeria: Hydrocarbon Curse Fueling Instability in Niger Delta

摘要

Nigeria, like most oil producing countries, suffers from a phenomenon called 'oil curse.' For years, Nigeria has realized billions of dollars from oil revenues, yet the majority of her citizens, particularly the inhabitants of the Niger Delta that produces most of the oil, have not benefitted from it. Most of the inhabitants wallow in abject poverty, and the region is underdeveloped-precipitated by prevalent corruption and poor governance. These and other factors are fueling the insurgency that is negatively impacting local and international economy exemplified by loss of billions of dollars to oil disruptions, The Nigerian government, in cooperation wittNiil companies, the international community, MEND, and other militant groups, should work harmoniously to devise an equitable means of distributing oil windfalls to harness lasting peace and stability in the Niger Delta arid the country as a whole.