The Niger Delta comprises of nine states out of the thirty (36) that make-up the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These states are Delta. Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross-Rivers, Ondo, Imo, Abia and Akwa-Ibom states and are located in the southern part of the country. The Niger Delta covers and area of about 70,000 square kilometer and with an estimated population of 25 million people. The region consists of over forty different ethnic groups, speaking different languages. Also, the dominant occupation of the people are farming and fishing.
The crisis in this region which has lasted for many decades and has caused great loss of human and material recourses is traceable to the following factors as shall be explained hereafter.
(1) THE OBVIOUS INFRASTRUCTURAL DECAY AND VERY POOR LEVEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA
The discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri, and Ijaw rural community in the Niger Delta by Shell in May, 1958, set the stage for a major change in a country’s economic fortune. Many companies were contracted to explore the area and in no too long a time, full exploration activities begun and Nigeria became a major crude oil exporting country. Nigeria had been earning huge amount of foreign exchange from this lucrative oil business which accounts for major infrastructural development in the country. Ironically, the said infrastructural development is not visible in the Niger Delta where this crude oil is drawn. The Federal allocation being disbursed to oil producing states is in no way comparable with the amount of economic resources that goes out of the Region annually. It is disheartening to see that many of the Niger Delta communities that had witnessed massive crude oil exploration and exploitation still live in abject poverty. These people have no access to basic amenities like good roads, schools, portable drinking water, housing and other relevant social infrastructure. Furthermore, the level of infrastructural development visible in cities like Lagos and Abuja, a former capital and current capital territory of Nigeria respectively, which are made possible due to huge foreign exchange gotten from crude oil export, compared to that prevalent in the Niger Delta, shows the level of marginalization being suffered by the Niger Delta Communities. With the aforesaid situation, looming crisis is inevitable.
The crisis in this region which has lasted for many decades and has caused great loss of human and material recourses is traceable to the following factors as shall be explained hereafter.
(1) THE OBVIOUS INFRASTRUCTURAL DECAY AND VERY POOR LEVEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA
The discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri, and Ijaw rural community in the Niger Delta by Shell in May, 1958, set the stage for a major change in a country’s economic fortune. Many companies were contracted to explore the area and in no too long a time, full exploration activities begun and Nigeria became a major crude oil exporting country. Nigeria had been earning huge amount of foreign exchange from this lucrative oil business which accounts for major infrastructural development in the country. Ironically, the said infrastructural development is not visible in the Niger Delta where this crude oil is drawn. The Federal allocation being disbursed to oil producing states is in no way comparable with the amount of economic resources that goes out of the Region annually. It is disheartening to see that many of the Niger Delta communities that had witnessed massive crude oil exploration and exploitation still live in abject poverty. These people have no access to basic amenities like good roads, schools, portable drinking water, housing and other relevant social infrastructure. Furthermore, the level of infrastructural development visible in cities like Lagos and Abuja, a former capital and current capital territory of Nigeria respectively, which are made possible due to huge foreign exchange gotten from crude oil export, compared to that prevalent in the Niger Delta, shows the level of marginalization being suffered by the Niger Delta Communities. With the aforesaid situation, looming crisis is inevitable.
(2) THE OPERATIONAL STANDARD OF OIL COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES PRESENT IN THE AREA.
The Niger Delta region of Nigeria had witnessed massive oil exploration over many decades with major multinational companies like Shell, Chevron, Texaco and many others at the fore front of these activities. It must be said that these oil companies operate well below the standard expected of them. The exploration and exploitation of oil companies in Niger Delta has been more conspicuous over time. Oil producing areas suffer massive damage as a result of the activities of oil companies. Oil companies have operated for many decades in the Niger Delta without a standard environmental impact assessment. A situation which is unacceptable in developed countries. The Niger Delta people are subjected to cope with oil spillages and environmental degradation as a result of the activities of oil companies.
The corporate responsibility of oil companies and other businesses in the area are below international standard and this is been undermined by the Federal government of Nigeria
(3) THE POOR APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA, THE YEARNING FOR RESOURCE CONTROL AND THE HIGH HANDENESS OF GOVERNMENT.
The Federal system of government operated in Nigeria, which ought to have been able to address the issue of resource control had failed to do this, as the system is been operated in distortion. The Federal government on many occasion over steps it bounds and this has greatly been exposed in the oil exploration in Nigeria. Today, the Federal Government allocates a percentage of oil revenue to the oil producing states of the country annually. This ought not to be so under a functional federal system. The regional governments ought to manage their economic resources available in their areas and pay taxes to the Federal government as this is the norm in other countries where federal system is the order of the day, with the United States of America as a typical example.
The yeaning for resource control has lead to various internal crisis and demonstration in the Niger Delta especially with the continuous show of marginalization and insensitivity to the plight of the people by government. A practical example of the aforesaid is the Ogoni community of Rivers State. On August 26, 1990, the Ogoni people issued a bill of right which was sent to the Federal government of Nigeria, demanding political freedom that will guarantee political control of the affair of their land and control of economic resources by the Ogoni people. This demand was turned down but the Ogoni people whose case was being spearheaded by MOSOP did not stop. They intensified their struggle, taking their case to various international agencies and organization. This act eventually led to the execution of human right activist, Ken Saro Wiwa in 1993, who was a major figure in the struggle, by the then military government headed by General Sani Abacha.
The struggle for resource control and emancipation has never being solely an Ogoni affair. The Ogba, Itsekhiri, Ijaw, Urhobo and many other communities in the Niger Delta have embarked on continuous struggle.
Also, regional state governments of oil producing states in Nigeria have also met and presented a case of increased allocation to at least 10%, for the development of the Niger Delta but the Federal Government only granted 3%. The act of high handedness and the insensitivity of both past and present federal governments have been a major contributor to the seemingly unending crisis in the region.
(4) THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
It has been argued that the federal government of Nigeria over many decades had not allocated enough revenue to ensure speedy development in the Niger Delta, which is very true to a large extent. But the fundamental question is, what has become of the acclaimed ‘little” revenue gotten so far?
It must be mentioned that there has not been prudent management of resources in the Niger Delta. Agencies set up by the Federal and state governments to speed up development in the area are been used as means of siphoning huge amount of money to personal pockets. Personalities of questionable characters are appointed to head these bodies, which therefore makes nonsense of entire process. None is to be blamed but government who do not monitor properly the activities of these agencies, to ensure they fulfill the purpose to which they were created.
There is a provisions in the 1999 Constitution that allocates 13% of total revenue gotten from oil to the oil producing states of the country and also established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a federal government agency whose responsibility is to accelerate economic development and provide infrastructure in the area, but these have not served the desire purpose at all.
Some governors of the Niger Delta States are been tried for money laundry by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a body set up by the federal government to investigate and prosecute persons involve in financial crimes. These governors have siphoned billions of naira to their personal aggrandizement. Another question that will arise is “if a governor can steal public fund to the tone of billions of naira, will that same governor not steal more if he is allowed to manage economic resources in his area when a federal system is fully in place?”
The issue of corruption which is highly present in government and in the social lives of Nigerians must be addressed with all seriousness by the federal government. Nothing meaningful will be achieved in the Niger Delta when corrupt officials are appointed to manage developmental programmes and projects. Also, it must be noted that the issue of corruption is a national problem, with Nigeria being ranked as one of the most corrupt in the world.
THE WAY FORWARD
The continuing conflict in the Niger Delta is mounting a heavy pressure on the country’s oil output. Therefore, stakeholders must put-in genuine effort at resolving the over four decade long crisis. Some of the conditions outlined below will help a great deal at resolving the crisis.
(1) Popular participation/public cooperation is perhaps the most important condition for the success of conflict resolution. The people directly affected must be brought to the dialogue table by government. The people should be involved in the formation of the plans that affect them and should be consulted about their needs and aspiration. When this is done, there would be a favourable atmosphere for proper operation of all companies in the region.
(2) In order to resolve the conflict in the Niger Delta permanently, the issue of equitable distribution of resources must be given considerable attention. As a matter of policy that must be complied with by the stakeholders, government and oil companies should plough back excess revenue into human resource development, infrastructural and social amenities, which will help at improving the standard of living of the Niger Delta people.
(3) Oil and gas activities in the Niger Delta must be regulated to make them more environmentally friendly. Strict environment standards should be enforced. Pollution taxes should be utilized and companies should be subjected to heavily compensate communities affected by oil spillages. This will compel oil companies to take proactive measures and use up to date technologies in their exploration and exploitation activities, resulting in a great reduction in spillages and other disasters involved with oil exploration and exploitation activities.
(4) Collation and dissemination of information as regards the region should be given considerable attention in order to achieve permanent conflict resolution in the Niger Delta. Information on how funds are being disbursed, projects such funds are meant for, amount involved and those entrusted with the funds, should be made available to the people. Relevant information on major projects should be made available to the people. When this is effectively done, accountability and transparency is ensured.
(5) There should be deliberate effort by government to address the issue of corruption. Agencies like the EFCC should be strengthened to investigate corrupt officials and those found wanting should be made to face the law.
CONCLUSION
From the foregoing, it is obvious that the core cause of the Niger Delta crisis is the issue of equitable distribution of resources which are essential for rapid development. Also, as been observed, the development of Nigeria as a country is not determined by concentration of wealth in one part and neglect of others. Rather, distribution of resources which ensures rapid development in the different regions, would contribute greatly towards accelerated development in the entire country.
Furthermore, all stakeholders should forget about the past and embark on policies and programmes to laying a solid foundation for the future generation. The solution to the crisis is not just allowing local communities resources control, but there should be collective will on the part of government and the oil companies at addressing the problem. When the people see this genuine attitude on the part of government and the oil companies, they will embrace peaceful dialogue, in order to ensure sustainable development in their area.
