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

Chapter II: The Niger Delta Crisis: The Political Economy of Fossil Fuels in
Nigeria
governance of the military to hasten reconstruction immediately after
the Civil War aggravated the crises in the oil bearing region. All the
Commissions set up by the federal government to see to the
development of the special areas according to the recommendation of
the Willink’s Commission of 1957 remain a paper work. Until the
application of this Commission’s recommendations are religiously
followed, the region will remain a keg of gunpowder for the Nigerian
state.
Another area that has refused to attract the attention of scholars is
the activities of the OSCs. They are the major contractors of the oil
majors in Nigeria. Their activities are more than what the oil
companies are contributing to the underdevelopment of the Nigerian
state, and environmental hazard posed to the oil producing areas is
enormous. Because they are the major supplier of inputs for the
exploration and drilling of fossil fuel, whatever their roles in the region
should attract the attention of government environmentalists.
Therefore, it is needed to have a way of controlling their activities
rather than leaving them to the care of the oil MNCs.
The thesis of philanthropic roles of the oil companies, which include
building of schools, health centres, issuing of scholarship and
compensation payments for damaged crops and oil spills only
aggravate instability and corruption. The oil companies should come
up with a plan of action for the oil bearing areas and the neighbouring
50