Niger-Delta Crisis and its Impact on Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria

Filed in Public Administration Project Topics by on October 28, 2020

Niger-Delta Crisis and its Impact on Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the Niger Delta Crisis and its Impact on Socio-economic Development in Nigeria. The region accounts for the huge revenues to the government generated from its oil wealth.

Despite the fact that the region’s major resources serves as the mainstay of the economy, the region is characterized by lack of social infrastructure, poverty, unemployment and environmental degradation, which is usually as a result of oil spillages and leaks from the oil exploration activities of oil companies.

Due to this pathetic situation, the study delves into the various manifestations of crises in the Delta region, the causes of these crises, the consequences of the crisis, and the measures by the government, past and present towards tackling the imbroglio in the nation’s oil wealth region.

Data for this study were drawn mainly using questionnaires and related literatures. Furthermore, data drawn from the questionnaire were analyzed using simple percentage method and chi-square.

Furthermore, the study amongst other things revealed that the people of the region have been further impoverished as a result of the crisis; the crisis has seriously dwindled government’s revenue; the crisis has equally dwarfed the level of local and foreign investments in the region.

The study concluded by making recommendations, some of which includes the government ensuring that the activities of oil companies are closely monitored and that they conform to best practices. The government ensuring the oil producing communities are adequately compensated and their environment cleansed from oil spillages and leaks by multinational oil companies.

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria is fraught with myriad problems and challenges, and one of them is the Niger Delta crisis. The Niger Delta crisis has been simmering for years, and it is holding the nation’s feet to the fire. The crisis is getting messier by the day, as it remains unresolved (Victor Dike, 2006: 25).

The area which is described as the Niger Delta region of Nigeria lies between latitudes 4o and 6o north of the Equator and 4o and 8o east of the Greenwich. According to the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan (2007), the Niger Delta comprises of nine states; Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Imo and Abia.

The Niger Delta region stretches over 20,000 km2 of swamp land in the littoral fringes of the country; it embraces one of the world’s largest wetlands, over 60% of Africa’s largest mangrove forests, and one of the worlds’ most extensive (Eyinla and Ukpo, 2006).

Comprising mainly of a distinct aquatic environment which embraces marine, brackish and fresh water ecosystems, it encompasses the most extensive fresh water swamp forest in West and Central Africa, and manifests an intricate network of creeks, rivers, streams, swamps, braided streams and Oxbow lakes, besides a stretch of flat and fertile land mass.

Also in this region lies Nigeria’s over 35 billion barrels of proven oil reserves (Eyinla and Ukpo, 2006: 5), besides an even larger deposit of natural gas. The region also accounts for over 80% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and represents the economic jugular of the country.

REFERENCES 

Aghalino, S.O. (2007) “Petroleum Exploitation and Environmental Degradation in Nigeria”, in Jimoh and I. Fabiyi ed. Contemporary Issues in Environmental Studies. Ilorin, Nigeria: Haytgee Press.

Amazie, R. (2009). “How Federalism Underdeveloped Niger Delta”. Paper Delivered at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC, USA.

Asobie A (2004). Conflict Resolution and Human Rights: A case study approach Ibadan: E Watch Print.

Brisibe, A. A. (2001) African Tradition “The Identity of a People: With special Focus on Globalization & Its Impact in the Niger Delta” C.O.O.L Conference, Boston, U.S.A, 2001.

Brisibe, A. A. (2001) African Tradition “The Identity of a People: With special Focus on Globalization & Its Impact in the Niger Delta” C.O.O.L Conference, Boston, U.S.A, 2001.

CSN Team.

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