Oil Exploration and Terrorism in Nigeria: The Experience of the Oil Producing States

Abstract

It is a fact that there is terrorism in the Oil Producing States of Nigeria. Daily,
pipelines are vandalized, oil wells constructions are halted, oil workers are held hostage, lives are lost and property destroyed. The purpose of this study is to bring into focus this ugly situation, and lay bare the plights of the Oil Producing States, arising from the effects of oil exploration, socio-economic and political problems; as well as socio-psychological problems that enabled terrorism to strive. Factually, terrorism is rooted in the political economy, which does not give people equal opportunity to participate in the share and distribution of their national cake. The irony of the whole situation is that while majority of the people live in penury and environmental degradation, the custodians of State political apparatus grow fat in uncontrollable affluence and wealth. Gradually, terrorism which is nurtured by misery sneaks into the marrow of the society. This study, therefore, takes a critical look at the ugly situation, identifies vent of anger by mostly the youths of the affected areas as a result of negligence as one of the major problems that have led to this situation. Based on this premise, it is recommended that the Nigerian States should rise up to its responsibilities to the Nigerian people and Oil Producing States in particular.