Niger Delta Studies

In this paper, we shall attempt to provide a concise history of the advent of the Oil industry in Nigeria in general and pay particular attention to the Oil producing area of Ogba/Egbema. Petroleum production and export is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, providing almost 90% of Nigeria's export earnings (NNPC 1993:1). Exploration and production of crude oil for export has put Nigeria in the comity of oil-rich nations. The steady increase in revenue accruing from this finite source has however dwarfed earnings from other products to turn Nigeria into a mono-product economy state. This makes historical scholarship in this sector stimulating and pertinent.

Ogba/Egbema area is the location of the first and second highest Oil producing communities in Nigeria, Obagi of Ogba being the first and Mgbede/Ebocha of Egbema being the second. It is the presence of these two oil-bearing communities that place Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in the position of highest Oil-producing local government area in Nigeria; a position that is unenviable in view of the resultant environmental degradation, poverty and all the effects of the air, water and land pollution.

Ogba/Egbema is located north of Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State. The area lies within the Delta formation, covering an area of 237.5sq km. This area is situated within the Oil mining leases (OMLS) 58, 60 and 61 with mixed vegetation of freshwater swamp and rain forest (NNPC 1997:35).

Administratively, the area was designated a district until 1978 when it was assigned a divisional status. the division was later fragmented into two units; Omoku Urban and Ogba/Egbema district in 1980 before it became a part of ONELGA created in 1992 We shall trace the history of crude oil development in this great oil-bearing area and its contribution to the economy of the nation especially up to the peak of oil boom; 1979.

Keywords: Oil Exploration, Exploitation, Ogba/Egbema LGA, Oil Industry, Pollution, Degradation, Niger Delta

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has endured severe environmental pollution and degradation, which are commonly believed to be a consequence of the activities of oil companies operating there with impunity. This article examines the relationship between the oil companies and the government in which the former has historically facilitated the education, careers and fortunes of major principals of the latter. The article also highlights the ‘culture of denial’ in Nigeria fostered by the elite and used to create reasonable doubt about serious crimes and malfeasance committed against the people and the land in the Niger Delta and the rest of society. This culture denial is used very pervasively by the Nigerian elite to protect the activities oil companies. The article finally challenges some of the questions used to effectively perpetrate the denial of adverse exploitation activities in the Niger Delta.

Before the Portuguese arrived in the Niger Delta in the 1480s, Benin was a fledgling empire that had some influence in the Western Niger Delta. In the course of the four centuries in which the European trade with Africa blossomed, following the Portuguese arrival in the region, Benin expanded that influence into an important imperial foothold in the Western Niger Delta and the Niger basin. Benin therefore played a significant role in the development of the Niger Delta and Niger basin during the centuries of the European trade. The primary purpose of this paper is to sort out the larger role played by Benin kingdom and its empire in the beginning phases of the evolution of the Atlantic World. I also seek to indicate that during the formation of the Atlantic World, new trading relationships and the exchange of cultural artifacts reshaped the indigenous cultures of Benin and the Western Niger Delta, prompting the emergence of common dress and food subcultures as a consequence of the region's participation in the development of the Atlantic World. Finally, I will assess how Benin's complex reaction to the Atlantic slave trade complicates the history of the Niger Delta.

The Nigerian state is yet to achieve meaningful success in its national integration drive. The Niger Delta conflict, which has to do with the demand by the peoples of the Niger Delta region for a fair deal in the Nigerian state and the response by the Nigerian state to that demand appears to be at the centre of Nigeria’s National Question. The degeneration of the Niger Delta Question into a militant confrontation with the Nigerian federal state represents the most violent struggle against the state in post civil war Nigeria and thus the greatest  challenge to the Nigerian nationhood project under the on-going democratic dispensation. The retrogressive course of national integration under democratic governance is a function of the skewed, obscure and parasitic nature of the Nigerian federal state and the chronic corruption of the elites entrusted with the process of democratic governance. This paper traces the origin and development of the Niger Delta Question and examines the progress made by the Nigerian federal state in finding an acceptable answer to the “Question”. The paper concludes by suggesting alternate approaches to achieving the national integration and democratic governance which are critical to the continued survival, progress and greatness of the Nigerian federal state.

The paper discusses the imperatives of sand mining and the environmental
impacts using selected case histories in the Niger Delta and elsewhere. The
continuation of sand mining in spite of the associated adverse environmental
effects, have been linked to the creation of new usable land from marginal
lands of the region and sustained supply of aggregates for expansion of civil
infrastructure. The case studies highlight the project cycle of sand mining
and the circumstances in which environmental peculiarities influence
the procedures and strategies for abstraction. The major concerns of sand
mining in the riverbeds and open sea are accelerated coastal and riverbank
erosion, surface water turbidity due to re-suspended sediment load, threats to
coastal infrastructure and the prospect of wider dispersion of contaminated
sediments with extended effects on water quality, health and safety of marine
life. The paper emphasizes the need to integrate mitigative measures of
potential impacts into the planning and execution of sand mining projects.

After decades of military rule, Nigeria's return to democracy and stability in 1999 have allowed areas previously avoided, such as past and current conflicts, religious clashes, and ethnic politics, to be cautiously approached and included in productions by filmmakers in spite of their potentially explosive nature-yet this last type of film is seldom produced, as the screening of contemporary history and current events in Nigeria is usually seen as a risky endeavour. This paper considers Black November (2012) and Oloibiri (2015), the two most recent Nollywood films discussing the current Delta oil-triggered conflict, replaces them in their environmental and political context and reveals Nollywood as a sounding board and political advisory platform, screening a compelling summary of the issues, highlighting the stakeholders' conflicting interests, illustrating the environmental and social damage and calling for solutions.

This research aims at identifying the root causes of political crisis in Nigeria and black gold (oil) being the underlying factor for this crises. The focus is on the Niger Delta and its festering crisis which stems from the regions critical importance to Nigeria. Over the years, the Niger Delta region has had the highest risk of political unrest, simply because the region is rich in terms of oil and gas productions in Nigeria.  As the nation’s treasure base, the Niger Delta provides over 80% of government revenues, and 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Also, the bulk of Nigeria’s bio-diversity and some of her best human resources are derived from the Niger Delta. This research recognizes the fact that there have been earlier proffered solutions to the crisis in the region, hence, it aims at recognizing other causes of the crisis that have not been properly addressed. Also, this research, most importantly will refer to some prior solutions that would gradually help in addressing and proffering solutions to the crises in the Niger Delta region.

Convert degraded ecosystems of Niger Delta region, Nigeria into bioenergy economy where an estimated 5-10% of Nigerian mangrove ecosystems have been wiped out by hydrocarbon degradation at Oloibiri in 1956. The remediation-to-biofuel research developed with field trials (2004-2016) called PC3R technology® (Pollution Construct, Remediation, Restoration and Reuse). Technology platform was microbial inoculants, climate smart agriculture and agriculture aviation technology (2010-2015) approved by Nigeria regulatory agencies. PC3R is a framework and action plan techniques that encapsulates human capacity development, bioremediation, restoration ecology (post-remediation) phytoremediation and cultivation of bio-energy crops (sugar cane, maize, soybean and cassava) for bio-ethanol production within the Niger Delta region. The case studies are: bioremediation of hydrocarbon waste pit OML 58, OB 12 /70 (Obagi), and Port Harcourt refinery using microbial consortia treatment within four weeks (2007) with plants and animal (snail) biodiversity restored. PC3R human capacity training was conducted May 5-17th, 2014 for technology diffusion. An integrated solution for hydrocarbon clean-up-to-wealth creation (conversion of polluted land to agricultural farm land for bioenergy crops cultivation). PC3R technology® provides the protocol for assessing these problems, and incorporating new insights and wealth creation win-win scenarios to improve the hydrocarbon operations in Niger Delta region for locals and stakeholders for sustainable development.

Keywords:       
Bio-fuel, PC3R technology, bioremediation, restoration ecology, human capital development, bio-ethanol, wealth creation, Niger-Delta region,  climate-smart agriculture

No war or violent conflict subsists without a war economy behind it. At the same time no peace process can accomplish its preferred objectives without the active accommodation of the war economy in its core postwar plans. An extremely formidable leadership in all sectors is however needed to manage a huge and lucrative war economy such as the one that was built to sustain the recent conflict in the Niger Delta. This paper explores the compelling impact of the elements of the war economy of the recent conflict in the Niger Delta that is affecting the post-amnesty peace processes and how leadership failure at all levels during the peace negotiation period facilitated in no small measure to keep most of the elements of the war economy of the recent crisis in the region to hunt the nation at present in a vicious manner that is unprecedented in the history of post-conflict peace building in the continent. 2

Poverty has become an endemic phenomenon in Nigeria in spite of the abundant human and material resources the country is endowed with by nature. Various efforts at tackling poverty in Nigeria have been wishy-washy as a result of diverse faulty and dysfunctional Government policies and implementation programmes which have failed to address the problem of poverty. In the case of the Niger Delta region, diverse factors, both natural and man-made have been responsible for the poverty syndrome witnessed so far. This paper seeks to highlight these factors with historical insight and attempts to proffer possible panacea for tackling this seeming intractable menace.

Keywords: Poverty, Niger Delta, Government Policies, Sustainable Development

This paper examines the perceived deprivations in the Niger Delta that have led to the demand for resource control in the Niger Delta region. The study relies mainly on secondary sources for its analysis. There is a reliance on existing literature in books, journals, newspapers and magazines. The piece identifies and historicizes the reasons for the persistent agitations for self-determination and resource control in the Niger Delta. It finds that the demand for resource control has been necessitated by the neglect and deprivation suffered by the people of the region. It is this neglect and deprivation that have crystallized and metamorphosed into the current resource control conflict that threatens to dismember the Nigerian state. It concludes that the agitations in the region cannot be explained only in terms of environmental conflict. The neglect over the years suffered by the people in terms of provision of infrastructural facilities and their socio-political marginalization are crucial in explaining the frequent eruptions in the Niger Delta.

The issue of climate change and the social risks associated with it has continued to take a centre stage in every development discourse around the world. The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is known to be more disproportionately affected by the problem of climate change in the country with diverse manifestations such as rise in sea level leading to massive flooding, coastal erosion, and desertification among others. This adverse climate scenario dovetail with other social problems to exacerbate the security challenges of the region. As a result, this paper examines the issue of climate change risks and human security challenges in the Niger Delta region especially its implication for policy makers. To achieve this aim, the paper relies on robust content analysis of secondary information in addition to observational techniques for its data. The paper argues that risks associated with climate change would pose more threat to human security in the Niger Delta region than illicit social activities such as youth restiveness and militia movements in the long run if not checked through conscious policy formulation and implementation. In the light of the foregoing submission, the paper recommends among others that climate change and or environmental policies should be put in place and strictly enforced in order to reduce or completely address the associated human security challenges such as emerging conflicts over fishing and farming grounds among others. INTRODUCTION Globally, climate change and the numerous social risks associated with it remain at the apex of every development agenda. This is because, climate change has been linked to increasing rate of environmental disasters such as drought, desertification, rise in sea level and flooding across the world (IPCC, 2007) with adverse consequences for other sectors of human social existence. Hence, there is a growing recognition that climate change related environmental disasters can undermine human security by igniting local and regional violent conflicts mostly through shrinking of natural resource holdings across the world. Salehyan (2008) as well as Brown and Crawford (2008) have argued that climate change can cause conflicts and pose human security challenges by creating adverse conditions that undermine basic human needs and can reduce governmental capacity to provide social welfare services. Similarly, Brancati (2007) and Keefer (2009) pointed out that climate change can cause resource scarcity, which may trigger competition and a reduction of governments' capacity to provide for people's needs.

Henry Okah (born 1965) is the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta Nigerian guerrilla (MEND); a title he denies. MEND has claimed responsibility for attacks on oil companies operating in the , often through the use of sabotage, guerilla warfare or kidnapping of foreign oil workers. The rebels' goal is to destabilize the foreign oil interest in the Niger Delta, who they claim have been exploiting the local populace. MEND announced its creation in early 2006 with several attacks on Nigeria's oil infrastructure that have cut daily production by about one quarter, as well as a sophisticated media campaign involving e-mailing press releases to coincide with the attacks. It created headlines in Nigeria when it announced it would participate in peace talks if they were mediated by former United States President or actor . It also claimed the organization was considering a cease-fire after receiving an "appeal" by U.S. President , who denied making it in the first place.

For several seasons now, the Niger Delta has been writhing in throes. It is still writhing in throes. And it will, perhaps, continue to writhe in throes. Perhaps, perpetually. Reasons exist for these seasons of throes. The Niger Delta is a blessed, ethereal landscape. It is home to a congregation of ageless swamps, calm creeks, and primeval estuaries. It is also drained by ancient streams and graceful undulating rivers that are populated with shoals of fishes which teem their beds. This is besides other magnificent marine creatures which the area lays claim to, making it a haven of aquatic splendour. With its virile, verdant vegetation of tall, elegant forest trees like the iroko, mahogany, obeche and other swaying flora, the Niger Delta is a natural habitat to a rare breed of wild animals and species of birds which eminently qualify this richly endowed rain forest enclave as a foremost tourist destination of global magnitude. The Niger Delta is also a neighbour of the majestic, imp...