Nigeria, Oil, & Economic Unrest By Chelcie Abajian and Melissa DeWolf

Nigeria, Oil, & Nigeria, Oil, & Economic UnrestEconomic Unrest

By Chelcie Abajian and

Melissa DeWolf

NigeriaNigeria Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil supplier.

Most of Nigeria’s oil fields are found in the swamps of the Niger Delta, an oil-rich region.

Niger Delta

Niger DeltaNiger Delta

Nigeria’s OilNigeria’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 RefineriesDifferent Oil Refineries

Oil refinery, Kaduna, Nigeria

Nigerian Oil equipment

Shell CompaniesShell 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.

ProblemsProblems 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 BackThe 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: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 CommunityReactions 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-WiwaKen 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 ChangesOil 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 ChangesThe 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 AbachaPresident 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 ObassanjoPresident 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

C E R A S EC E R A S E

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.

BibliographyBibliography• 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}