SUMMARY
This research was conducted to provide an understanding of the impact of the Niger Delta crisis on the Ogoni people through a knowledge of the factors that have caused the conflict in the Niger Delta Region. For a better understanding of the study that has been undertaken, the research set the three main objectives as presented in Chapter one;
- Examine the background causes of the Niger Delta Crisis.
- Explore the effects of Militants in the Ogoniland and the Niger Delta region at large.
- Carry out a fact-finding analysis on the impact of the Niger Delta crisis on the habitants of the Ogoniland.
In order to achieve these research objectives, this research used the fact analysis method, supported by qualitative data and aimed to analyze the following: the background and other causes of the conflict in the Niger Delta; detailed context of the Niger Delta and the dimensions of the Niger Delta conflict; the context of the Ogoniland and its inhabitants, the factor of Militia embedded in the very fabric of the Niger Delta region as a fuel to violence; the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) as a tool towards the redemption of the Ogoni people, the relating impacts of the crisis on the Ogoni people. This chapter encapsulates the key findings of this research; The impacts of the Niger Delta Crisis on the Ogoni People from 1990 to 2020.
Findings
The research began with a backdrop of the geographical nature of the Niger Delta and the socio-historical thriving of the conflicts in the Niger Delta region. This was respectively done in chapter Two to shed light on how conflicts in the Niger Delta are diverse in nature, yet are linked to one another and feed on each other. Chapter two identified that the nature of conflict in the Niger Delta region may be seen in two theoretical perspectives; The Conflict theory, and Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Development Racism. Ken’s “Development Racism Theory” views the situation in the Nigeria Delta, akin to a rent seeking state that collaborates with extractive industries (multi-National Oil Companies) to exploit its own people in a resource based economy. The second is the conflict theory, which views activism, militancy, thuggery and kidnapping as products of audacious capitalism and overt selfishness that manifest in the subjugation and alienation at both micro and macro levels of society leading to surplus value for government’s agencies and multinational companies operating in the region (Shell BP; Exxon Mobil, Chevron and others). Chapter Two also points out that the crisis is borne out of the nonchalant attitude of the multinational oil companies to improve on the well being of host communities through their corporate social responsibilities for the harmful effect of their activities and the uncompromising and irresponsive attitude of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which is the federal government representative that regulates the oil industry did not go down well with the people.
The use of violence in the conflict via militias by the indigenous people of the Niger Delta is addressed in Chapter Three. The chapter addresses the Government loss of monopoly in the use of violence as a number of youths acquired arms and ammunition and carried out violent acts of vandalism on oil pipelines and the kidnapping of oil workers. The analysis of this chapter holds that in social interactions, conflicts are unavoidable since it a major strand in social sciences. It majorly addresses how the ignorance of the federal government in their bid to avoid an existing problem can propel violence from the general public. It bears inspiration from the common saying that “if a man has been pushed to the wall, he has no other option than to turn around and face his adversary.” The Chapter also brings to knowledge the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and their efforts and losses in the bid to acquire self-determination.
Social and economic destabilization as the impact of the Niger Delta crisis upon the Ogoni people was addressed in the penultimate chapter. Much of the Ogoni people faced painful tribal discrimination, harassment, loss of livelihood and the loss of their homes and land. Chapter four points out the situation that the Ogonis were faced with as a result of the oil crisis in their homeland. The chapter also identifies the minimal efforts that have been made in an attempt to redeem the people of the Ogoni and their land.
The Ogoni question is not likely to come to an end soon. Although there has been a number of efforts towards restoring the communities in the Ogoni to a level required by the UNEP report and recommendation for Ogoniland. As the years go by, one can hope that the government would continue to take considerable measures for the benefit of the Ogonis and across other minorities in the Niger Delta as well, just as much as MOSOP still continues with its efforts to achieve its desire for Ogoniland and its people.
