Oil Exploitation In The Niger Delta: Gains or Pains?

On August 3, 1956, Shell D' Archy now Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC, struck oi in commercial quantities at Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa State. The discovery sounded the death knell and the beginning of the sad fate that was to befall the entire Niger Delta region as the battle for its survival began almost immediately.

Despite ballooning income from oil, Nigeria is still ranked among the pooret countries in the world. In a report released by the Energy Information Agency of the United States Energy Department, Nigeria was said to have made $55bn from oil exports in 2007. This made the country the 4th highest revenue earner among the membes of OPEC.

The immense wealth the oil represented was there to see but not to touch. The oil companies brought pipelines and oil pollution instead of water; gas flaring instead of energy and power, and socisl dislocation instead of gainfull employment. Oil has brought figthing, deaths and pollution to our communities.

The level of neglet, the level of poverty and environmental degradaton is very clear to visitors. As a result of these, the youths have become so confused and have taken to very negative expression of their anger and frustration. This has led to the unrest in the Niger Delta, the kidnapping of expatriates, vandalization of oil installation and the illegal aquization of arms.

The issues, relating to the development of the region should have been the first priority of the oil companies. Due to the issues of environmental degredation, from oil spills and noxious fumes from gas flaring the host communities have become dependant on the oil companies because of the deterioration of the soil and rivers. The government also is not helping matters as alleged by the oil communities.

But what is clear, is that after 52 years of the discovery of black gold as crude oil is called leaves a sour taste in the mouth of the people in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The concern of the IMF about the management of the Nation's oil resources should be taken seriously. Without doubt the MD of the IMF Mr. Dominique Kahn who visited Nigeria recently, was right when he said that the country's oil revenue had not translated into better living conditions for the people.