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Conflict and Development of Oil Producing States: Empirical Reflections on Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Scarcity and abundance of natural resources have been greatly acknowledged as agents capable of generating conflict, struggle for access to control and use of natural resources such as forest, water, pastures, land and mineral resources. Thus, conflict between the oil producing Niger Delta region of Nigeria and the oil companies operating in this region has significant implications on the development pattern and trends of the area. Specifically, conflict in Niger Delta which arose in the early 1990s over tension between oil companies and a number of host communities who felt exploited and cheated has damaging and devastating impact on these communities. The situation has continued in recent times and includes vandalization of oil pipe lines, high incidence of poverty in the midst of plenty, environmental, social and economic deterioration. This paper therefore serves as a report of an empirical investigation on the impact of conflict on the development of oil producing Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The methodology in this study captures three equations specified in order to test the linkage between conflict and the development of oil producing states. The result reveals a high degree of the effects of conflict on the development of Niger Delta region as basic infrastructural facilities are inadequate. The indicators of environmental, economic and political deprivations are enormous. This study therefore advocates adequate compensation and provision of basic infrastructural facilities to the host communities in line with peace education and dialogue as preventive strategies. Where these are treated with a wave of the hands, these deplorable conditions are capable of igniting the flames of more chaos in the area.