Nigeria, Oil, & Economic
Unrest
By Chelcie Abajian
and
Melissa DeWolf
Nigeria
Nigeria is Africa’s
largest oil supplier.
Most of Nigeria’s oil
fields are found in
the swamps of the
Niger Delta, an oilrich region.
Niger Delta
Niger Delta
Nigeria’s Oil
 Economy heavily relies on the sell of oil
 It is among the world’s top oil producing
countries.
 Oil exploration has been going on for more
than four decades.
 Most oil refineries are jointly or separately
owned by a foreign company, private
company, or the government.
For example:
The Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited is the
second largest jointly run oil refinery.
-The Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) owns 60%
-Texas-based Exxon Mobil owns 40%.
Different Oil Refineries
Oil refinery,
Kaduna, Nigeria
Nigerian Oil
equipment
Shell Companies
 There are 4 major Shell Companies located in
Nigeria
 Shell companies have worsened fighting in
the Niger Delta through payments
- for land use
-environmental damage
-corruption of company
-reliance on Nigerian security forces.
Problems
 The Niger Delta is the main location of ongoing
social conflict and political violence.
 Petroleum industry generates money for government
but not for native Nigerians.
 Oil companies are using foreign workers.
 -Oil spills
-oil drilling
-dredging swamp waters
-natural gas flares
have caused many environmental problems in
Nigeria.
 Favoritism among government officials
“There is a symbiotic relationship between the military dictatorship and the
multinational companies who grease the palms of those who rule....
They are assassins in foreign lands. They drill and they kill in Nigeria.”
-- Assassins in Foreign Lands, A CorpWatch Radio Interview with Human
Rights Activist Oronto Douglas
The Nigerians Fight Back
 Many protests have been held
by the Native communities
 Lawsuits against oil
companies have been filed
 Many activists have sabotaged
oil pipelines.
Many Nigerians
are fleeing the
Niger Delta area
Many
motorists
rely on black
market fuel
Examples:
 In July 2002 150
women protested at a
Chevron oil terminal,
trapping about 800
workers.
 The women wanted
better payment for
their families.
 This lasted for 8 days.
Reactions From the Global Community
 US, England and the European Union
imposed sanctions against the Abacha
regime because of the execution of Ken
Saro-Wiwa in 1995
Ken Saro-Wiwa
 Ken Saro-Wiwa was an activist and writer
who protested against Shell’s projects that
damage the native land of the Ogoni people.
 He was executed in 1995 by the Abacha
Government.
Oil Companies Make Changes
 Oil companies are making efforts to
better integrate the oil sector and the
native population.
 Proposed development projects which
would help the environmental
problems.
 Many of the problems are still not being
addressed or taken care of.
The Government Makes Changes
 The government under President Obassanjo
has tried to improve the relations between
the oil companies and the natives.
 Obassanjo has proposed many plans for the
future.
 The government maintains an optimistic view
 Many of the problems are still not being
addressed
President Abacha
 Ran a military regime
 Abused human rights
 Executed 9 political activists in 1995. (Including Ken
Saro-Wiwa)
 Supported by Hausa-Fulani
 Expected to win the Presidential elections in 1998
because of him promise to return the country to
civilian rule
 Died in April 1998 because of a heart attack.
President Obassanjo
 Military regime in 1970s
 Civilian regime in 1999
 Imprisoned by President Abacha in mid
1990s
 Yoruba Tribe
 Unable to take the country
out of economic hardships
and political unrest
CERASE
 Centre For Environmental Resources
and Sustainable Ecosystems
 Is leading a program, which its goal is
to improve the capacity of the local
people in the Niger Delta, without
waiting for government intervention.
Bibliography
•
Janice Limson. “Indigenous Plants to the Rescue. Environmental remediation in Nigerian
oil regions.” Science in Africa. 2002. 11-4-04.
{http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/february/oil.htm}
•
Elizabeth Harper. “Nigeria in Transition.” Online News Hour. July 2003. 11/3/04.
{http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/africa/nigeria/oil.html}
•
Anup Shah. “Conflicts in Africa, Nigeria and Oil.” Global Issues. July 2004. 11-3-04.
{http://globalissues.org/geopolitics/Africa/Nigeria.asp?p=1}
•
“Nigeria Union Calls Second Strike.” BBC NEWS. October 31, 2004. BBC NEWS. 11-4-04.
{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3969381.stm}
•
“More Oil Unrest for Nigeria.” CNN MONEY. October 31, 2004. CNN. 11-3-04.
{http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/31/news/international/bc.nigeria.strike.reut/}
•
“Nigeria.” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia. 2004. MSN Encarta. 11-3-04.
{http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557915_7/Nigeria.html}