Abstract
Oil was discovered in large quantities in Nigeria in 1956 and exploration began in the same year. Before oil, agriculture and fishing had assured the Niger Delta people of a bright future. Since 1956, oil has been extracted from the Niger Delta with destructive consequences on the environment, bringing about environmental degradation and destruction of the people’s primary means of livelihood. Land and water were badly polluted, and the health of the people affected because of leaks from oil pipelines, gas flaring and acid rains. Several petitions and non-violent protests by Delta communities, women and youth against environmental destruction failed to receive attention. Rather, opposition to peaceful protests earned the people military invasions of their communities, clampdowns and jailings. The rise of militarism and terrorism in the Niger Delta was the result of the Federal Government and Oil Companies’ clampdown on non-violent protests for environmental justice in the Niger Delta. This paper discusses the history of oil exploration in the Niger Delta, oil laws, effects of oil exploration in the region, and the rise of militants and terrorists in the area. The paper uses the term, ‘environmental Justice’ to denote unfair treatment and destruction of the Delta environment resulting from oil exploration, non implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, and abuse of human rights.The paper suggests solutions for peace in the Niger Delta.
Highlights
Oil was discovered in large quantities in Nigeria in 1956 and exploration began in the same year
This paper suggests that the Nigerian state and oil companies in the Niger Delta should put in place a fair and transparent compensation mechanism and reparation system for the people of the Delta
To talk about fiscal economy in Nigeria is to talk about crude oil and the allocation of revenue accruing from it
Summary
Oil was discovered in large quantities in Nigeria in 1956 and exploration began in the same year. Agriculture and fishing had assured the Niger Delta people of a bright future. Since 1956, oil has been extracted from the Niger Delta with destructive consequences on the environment, bringing about environmental degradation and destruction of the people’s primary means of livelihood. Several petitions and non-violent protests by Delta communities, women and youth against environmental destruction failed to receive attention. The rise of militarism and terrorism in the Niger Delta was the result of the Federal Government and Oil Companies’ clampdown on non-violent protests for environmental justice in the Niger Delta. The paper uses the term, ‘environmental justice’ to denote unfair treatment and destruction of the Delta environment resulting from oil exploration, non-implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, and abuse of human rights. The paper suggests solutions for peace in the Niger Delta
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