Paul Julius

The Niger Delta: Nigeria's Broken Heart Paul Julius

Oil has played a strategic role in the economics and politics of Nigeria since the mid-60s. Inspite the large oil earnings, the oil producing Niger Delta region in Nigeria remains one of the poorest and most conflict-prone region in sub-Saharan Africa. For most of the Niger Deltans, the story of oil has practically been that of 'the bad and the ugly'. The legacy of oil has been severe economic and environmental problems which have exacerbated political tensions and social conflict in the country. This dismal natural resource endowment narrative raises a key question, why has sustainable development been elusive in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria despite the magnitude of its oil wealth? This question is the subject of extensive discussion in this factual book. Despite the fact that the type and scale of violence in the oil region is rooted in generalised poverty, exploitation and a discriminatory system, what happens when a revolution gets hijacked by people pursuing parochial agenda?