International Politics of Oil Production in the Niger Delta and Environmental Challenges

Abstract

One of the top priorities of Nigerian government is the creation of conducive environment for local and foreign investment as a developmental strategy. In line with this strategy is the assumption that the developmental needs of the Niger Delta will become a reality with the injection of more foreign capital. Therefore, the focus of this research is on “The International Politics of Oil Production in the Niger Delta and Environmental Challenges”.  The origin of developmental dilemma in the Niger Delta Region was the incorporation of the region into the global capitalist economy.  The result of this incorporation was the conversion of the Niger Delta Region and the Rest of Africa into economic satellite of the core economies of Western Europe and North America. Resources and wealth flow from the satellite to the core simultaneously thereby, rendering the satellite poorer and the core economies riches. Oil multinational corporations are the main agents for the transfer of resources from the Niger Delta Region to Europe and America. Qualitative technique was adopted in data collection and analysis and the findings indicate that multinational oil companies are guilty of posing developmental and environmental challenges  in the Niger Delta Region. Arising from the findings, the study recommends strict introduction of government policies to regulate the activities of multinational companies in Nigeria, a return to fiscal federation in line with the yearnings and aspirations of the Niger Delta people and the introduction of welfare programs to calm down the tempo of militancy in the Niger Delta Region.