Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria
Chapter XI:
Between the Politics of Oil Exploration and
Exploitation, Oil Producing Communities’ Reactions
and Security Contradictions in the Niger Delta
By Egbadju Obukohwo Abraham
Abstract
This paper sets out to examine the politics of oil exploration and exploitation as a
harbinger to the patterns of reactions of the oil host communities in the Niger Delta
region on the one hand. On the other hand the paper seeks to identify and explain the
element of security contradiction as applied in handling the crisis arising from the
relationship between the oil host communities and the oil multinationals operating in
the region. The paper relies largely on secondary sources of data in its analysis. The
content analysis method of data collection is employed. The analysis of data is based
on a review of existing literature. A careful analysis of segments of argumentations in
the literature is linked with personal experience of the emerging trends in the area of
study so as to capture the realities on ground and to order a balanced argument. It is
revealed in this study that the politics of oil exploration and exploitation defines the
character and dynamics of the reactions of the host communities and the production
of the unending crisis in the Niger Delta region. This has in turn, affected the fragile
security situation in the region. The Nigerian state in the pretext of restoring security
in the area plays a conspirator role as it sponsored attack against its own people. The
paper recommends a sharp review of the existing Nigerian laws relating to land use
as well as to make provisions in the constitution to recognize the oil host communities
as an important third-partner in the rail in the oil-business alliance.
Introduction
The importance of oil and its role as a major contributor to the
economic growth and development of Nigeria cannot be
overemphasized. Nigeria had become self-sufficient after her
independence in the production of oil following its discovery at Oloibiri
in the Niger Delta in 1956 (Watts and Lubeck 1983: 106). Since then,
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