Niger Delta
1844605
226135689
2008-07-16T23:50:05Z
130.65.151.99
==Preamble==
The '''Niger Delta''', the [[river delta|delta]] of the [[Niger River]] in [[Nigeria]], is a densely populated region sometimes called the '''Oil Rivers''' because it was once a major producer of [[palm oil]]. The area was the British [[Oil Rivers Protectorate]] from 1885 until 1893, when it was expanded and became the [[Niger Coast Protectorate]].
[[Image:STS61C-42-72.jpg|thumb|View of the Niger Delta from space. North is on the left.]]
The Niger Delta, as now defined officially by the Nigerian Government, extends over about 70,000 km² and makes up 7.5% of Nigeria’s land mass. Historically and cartographically, it consists of present day [[Bayelsa]], [[Delta]] and [[Rivers]] States. In the year 2000, however, Obansanjo's regime expanded its definition to include [[Abia State]], [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Cross River State]], [[Edo State]], [[Imo State]] and [[Ondo State]]. Some 31 million people<ref>CRS Report for Congress, Nigeria: Current Issues Updated January 30, 2008</ref> of more than 40 ethnic groups, speaking some 250 dialects live in the Delta.
The '''South-South Niger Delta''' include [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Bayelsa State]], [[Cross River State]], [[Delta State]], [[Edo State]], and [[Rivers State]].
==Niger Delta Struggle==
During colonial period, the core Niger Delta was a part of Eastern Region of Nigeria which came into being in 1951 (one of the three regions, and later one of the four Regions). This region included the people from colonial Calabar and [[Ogoja]] Divisions, (see old [[Calabar Kingdom]]), the [[Igbo people]], and the Ijaw, with Igbo as the majority and Professor Eyo Ita of Calabar as the head (premier) of the region under NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon) as the ruling political party in the region. NCNC later became National Convention of Nigerian Citizens after Western Cameroon decided to cut-away from Nigeria and became a part of Cameroon.
In 1953, the region (eastern region) had a major crisis due to the expulsion of Professor Eyo Ita from office by the majority tribe. Using the platform of the Ibibio Union, the minorities in the region (non-Igbo), mainly people of the old [[Calabar Kingdom]], the [[Ijaw]] and [[Ogoja]] demanded a state of region of their own, the Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR) state. The struggle for the creation of COR state continued and was a major issue on the status of minorities in Nigeria during debates in Europe for Nigerian independence.
The present '''South-South''' political zone seems some-what close to the COR state movement, but not quite as the original COR state would include the '''Coastal South-South''' states only; namely: [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Bayelsa State]], [[Cross River State]], [[Delta State]] and [[Rivers State]].
'''A second phase''' of the struggle saw the declaration of Independent Niger Delta by Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro during Ironsi's administration, just before the Civil war.
During the Nigerian civil war, Southeastern state was created which had the colonial Calabar Division (old [[Calabar Kingdom]]), and colonial [[Ogoja]] Division, and Rivers States for the other minorities, especially the [[Ijaw]], Kalabari, [[Ogoni]], etc. Southeastern State was renamed Cross River State and was later split into [[Cross River State]] and [[Akwa Ibom State]]. Rivers State was later divided into [[Rivers State]], [[Delta State]] and [[Bayelsa State]].
'''Phase three''' saw the request for justice and the end of maginalization of the area by the Nigerian government with Ken Saro Wiwa as the lead figure for this phase of the struggle. The indigenes cried for lack of development even though the Nigerian oil money is from the area. They also complained about environmental pollution and destruction of their land and rivers by oil companies. Ken Saro Wiwa and other leaders were killed by the Nigerian Federal Government under Sani Abacha.
Unfortunately the struggle has gotten out of control and the present phase, the '''phase four''', has become militant in nature. Nigeria needs to stay strong and united and the government needs to help solve the Niger Delta Crisis.
==Western Niger Delta==
Western Niger Delta consits of the western section of the coastal South-South Nigeria which include River State, Delta State and Bayelsa State. The western Niger Delta is an heterogeneous society with several ethnic groups with [[Ijaw]] as the majority. Other ethnic groups include [[Urhobo]], Ezon, Isoko, [[Itsekiri]], Kolokunu, Ekpetiama Igbriran, Atissa, Biseni, Nemba, Ogbia, Ogbein, [[Ogoni]], Etche, Ogba/Egbema, and Ikwere, (Igbo). Their livelihoods are primarily based on [[fishing]] and [[agriculture|farming]].
==Eastern Niger Delta==
Eastern Niger Delta consists of the eastern section of the coastal South Nigeria which include Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State. The eastern Niger Delta region has the [[Efik]] people ([[Annang]] / [[Efik]] / [[Ibibio]], [[Oron]] and [[Eket]] people who are all related with a common language and ancestors were all referred to as [[Efik]] or [[Calabar]] people in early Nigerian history). The eastern Niger Delta is a very homogeneous society. The people of this area share common ancestors and a common language (with some dialect). Their capital city at [[Calabar]] located at the coastal southeast of Nigeria (eastern Niger Delta) served as the major trading and shipping center during the pre-colonial and colonial period. [[Calabar]] also served as the first capital of Nigeria and the point of entry of Western religion and Western education into southeastern Nigeria. The combined population of the [[Ibibio]], [[Annang]] and [[Efik]] people is the fourth largest single-language-group in Nigeria.
The [[Ijaw]] and the [[Annang]]/[[Efik]]/[[Ibibio]] may be related as historical record has it that they all migrated into Nigeria from the Cameroon highland upon arrival in Africa from Egypt.
==Nigerian oil==
Coincidentally, Nigeria has become Africa's biggest producer of [[petroleum]], including many [[oil wells]] in the Oil Rivers. Some 2 million [[Barrel (unit)|barrels]] a day are extracted in the Niger Delta. Since 1975, the region has accounted for more than 75% of Nigeria's [[export]] earnings. Much of the [[natural gas]] extracted in oil wells in the Delta is immediately burned, or [[gas flaring|flared]], into the air at a rate of approximately 70 million m³ per day. This is equivalent to 41% of African natural gas consumption, and forms the single largest source of [[greenhouse gas]] emissions on the planet. The environmental devastation associated with the industry and the lack of distribution of oil wealth have been the source and/or key aggravating factors of numerous environmental movements and inter-ethnic conflicts in the region, including recent guerilla activity by the [[Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta]] (MEND).
==Oil revenue derivation==
Oil revenue allocation has been the subject of much contention well before Nigeria gained its independence. Allocations have varied from as much as 50%, owing to the [[Nigerian First Republic|First Republic's]] high degree of regional autonomy, and as low as 10% during the military dictatorships.
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" class="wikitable"
|+Oil revenue sharing formula
! Year !! Federal !! State* !! Local !! Special Projects !! Derivation Formula**
|-
| 1958 || 40% || 60% || 0% || 0% || 50%
|-
| 1968 || 80% || 20% || 0% || 0% || 10%
|-
| 1977 || 75% || 22% || 3% || 0% || 10%
|-
| 1982 || 55% || 32.5% || 10% || 2.5% || 10%
|-
| 1989 || 50% || 24% || 15% || 11% || 10%
|-
| 1995 || 48.5% || 24% || 20% || 7.5% || 13%
|-
| 2001 || 48.5% || 24% || 20% || 7.5% || 13%
|-
|}
''* State allocations are based on 5 criteria: equality (equal shares per state), population, social development, land mass, and revenue generation. ''
''**The derivation formula refers to the percentage of the revenue oil producing states retain from taxes on oil and other natural resources produced in the state.'' [http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/5783/State_and_Governance_Nigeria.htm World Bank Report]
== Recent destabilisation ==
[[Image:NigerDeltaStates.png|thumb|325px|Map of Nigeria numerically showing states typically considered part of the Niger Delta region: 1. [[Abia_State|Abia]], 2. [[Akwa Ibom State|Akwa Ibom]], 3. [[Bayelsa State|Bayelsa]], 4. [[Cross River State|Cross River]], 5. [[Delta State (Nigeria)|Delta]], 6. [[Edo State|Edo]], 7.[[Imo State|Imo]], 8. [[Ondo State|Ondo]], 9. [[Rivers State|Rivers]] ''Click to view'']]
Activities of local indigenous people against commercial oil refineries and pipelines have destabilized the region. Recently foreign employees of [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]], the primary corporation operating in the region, were taken hostage by outraged local people. Such activities have also resulted in greater governmental concern with the area, and the mobilisation of the [[Nigerian army]] and coastguard into the region.
In April, 2006, a bomb exploded near an oil refinery in the Niger Delta region, a warning against Chinese expansion in the region. MEND stated: “We wish to warn the Chinese government and its oil companies to steer well clear of the Niger Delta. The Chinese government by investing in stolen crude places its citizens in our line of fire.”[http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/741-China-s-environmental-footprint-in-Africa]
Government and private initiatives to develop the Niger Delta region have been introduced recently. These include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC [http://www.nddcnet.com/]), a Government initiative, and the Development Initiative (DEVIN [http://www.devinitiatives.org/]), a community development non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta. Uz and Uz Transnational [http://www.uzanduz.com/], a company with strong commitment to the Niger Delta, has introduced ways of developing the poor in the Niger Delta, especially in Rivers State.
''It should not be confused with the Inner Niger Delta, also known as the [[Niger Inland Delta]], in [[Mali]].''
==Media==
The [[Sweet Crude documentary|"Sweet Crude" documentary]] film by Director Sandy Cioffi and Producer Tammi Sims is now in post-production. Sweet Crude tells the story of Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
== See also ==
*[[Ijaw]]
*[[Ibibio]]
*[[Annang]]
*[[Efik]]
*[[Ogoni]]
*[[Itsekiri]]
*[[Urhobo]]
*[[Calabar Kingdom]]
*[[States in Ancient Calabar Kingdom]]
*[[Petroleum in Nigeria]]
*[[Niger Delta conflicts]]
*[[Nigerian Oil Crisis]]
*[[Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)]]
*[[Chanomi Creek]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{citation style}}
* American Association for the Advancement of Science, [http://www.aaas.org/international/ssd/nigerdelta/ Niger Delta]
* Niger-Delta Development Commission, [http://www.nddconline.org/The_Niger_Delta/ Niger Delta: A Brief History]
* [http://www.eraction.org/ Environmental Rights Action]
* Climate Justice Programme and Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, [http://www.climatelaw.org/gas.flaring/report Gas Flaring in Nigeria: A Human Rights, Environmental and Economic Monstrosity], June 2005.
* [[UNDP]] [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/detail_reports.cfm?view=1060 Niger Delta Human Development Report]
* Proceedings of the Ibibio Union 1928-1937. Edited by Monday Efiong Noah. Mondern Business Press Ltd, Uyo.
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[[Category:River deltas]]
[[Category:Landforms of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Freshwater ecoregions]]
[[Category:Energy in Nigeria]]
[[Category:Environmental disasters]]
[[Category:Industrial disasters]]
[[Category:Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries]]
[[Category:History of the petroleum industry]]
[[Category:History of Nigeria]]
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