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

Dr. Lere Amusan
pay from their monthly allocation to cushion the effects of
environmental hazard inflicted on the neighbouring communities
The involvement of community and private individuals toward seeking
redress from government and oil companies is full of contradictions.
Majority of the pro-environmental friendly groups formed in the oil
producing areas are with various agenda. While some want to be
known in exchange for economic and political relevance, others really
want to seek compensation for their perceived common land property
confiscated by the oil companies through the federal government. The
connivance between the Nigerian government and the oil giants in the
oil bearing areas has caused the denial of the Niger deltans of three
basic things- clothing, shelter and food - with little or no
compensation (Akinsanya, 1980: 16-93). This is the major source of
instability in the area. In some cases when government and oil
companies engage in community development, the activities of
politicians, retired military generals, local chiefs and civil servants
from the area scuttle the efforts. This takes several forms among
which is cornering all the proceeds meant for their community for
their personal benefits. This obnoxious practice had in the past led to
the killing of the four traditional chiefs in the Ogoniland that
catapulted to the violent crisis between 1995 and 1998 in the political
and economic developments of Nigeria during the Abacha military
regime. The international focus on the plight of the Ogoni people
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