The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has in the last one decade received international attention for two reasons - the level of environmental degradation occasioned by oil exploitation, and the incessant conflicts over allocation and control of oil resources. Scholarly works abound on the new political economy imposed on Nigeria and the oil producing areas in particular as a result of oil exploitation. Works on the new political economy have featured themes that range from environmental impact of oil exploitation, inter and intra ethnic conflicts (that arise from the struggle for control of oil-rich areas), impact of exploitation on the sociocultural system to struggle for resource control. For instance, Eteng (1998) and Imobighe et al (2002) write about the violence that enveloped the Niger Delta on account of oil exploitation. The fighting among ethnic groups who compete against one another for claims to oil-rich areas is given prominence in their account. The potential benefits of links to the oil industry are identified as factors that have exacerbated conflicts within and among the oil bearing communities. Obi and Okwechime (2004) however, underscore the impact of globalization on inter-ethnic relations in the Niger Delta region. The scholars opine that the structures and processes of globalization have, since the end of the 1980s, fed into, and consequently escalated inter-ethnic tensions and conflicts across the oil-producing communities of Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Other scholars like Ikein (1990) and Adetula (1996) dwell on the impact of oil exploitation on the sociocultural system of the oil producing areas.
It is a common view in the literature that oil exploitation has left in its trail a complex mix of problems that include environmental pollution and a reduction in the value of aquatic resources. These outcomes are thought to have impacted negatively the economic activities of oil producing areas. Generally, the Niger Delta populations are treated as victims of resource exploitation. Leadership problems and widespread corruption are also popular explanation for the continued backwardness of the region amidst organised intervention. In a way, little or no recognition is accorded the probable roles of behavioural traits like negative attitude to productive work, increased individualism and the propensity to rely on unearned income for livelihood. Though these traits may have emerged as reactions to the destruction of the local economy, they are likely to have negative impact on the development intervention efforts of governments.
This blog will focus on the sociocultural factors that are often ignored in the treatment of the Niger Delta crisis, and the development efforts of the Nigerian government aimed at mitigating the negative impact of oil exploitation.
