CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background To The Study
The resurgence of militant group has renewed the
growing tension of conflict in the Niger Delta and has continually posed a fundamental
domestic challenge to Nigerian security for more than a decade. Militant attack
on oil facilities has dropped the production output of oil per barrel per day
in the region. Production is currently 20 to 25 percent below capacity. The
conflict in the Niger Delta emanates from the protests alleging the neglect of
the region and the disenfranchisement of the region’s communities against their
political, economic and environmental rights. Consequently, Militia groups in
the region have constantly taken up arms against the federal government. Some
of the groups are purportedly being sponsored by politicians and government
officials. Who use the militias for their own political and economic purposes?
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which was
organized in 2006, operates as a loose network of gangs rather than a
coherent organization without a common political agenda that could enhance
negotiations and conflict resolution. Other groups engage in criminal
activities which escalating renewed conflict in a bid to propagate their
ambition of criminal activities and conflict in the region and fulfilling the
aims of the politicians and others who pay them, the militia members
perpetuate the governance system that contributes to the region’s problems.
Following renewed conflict in the region the militias have become increasingly
violent, kidnapping people randomly. They go for foreign oil workers and the
rich. The Politicians who fund the militias retain the greatest percentage
share of illegally sourced revenue and wealth to sustain their activities with
minimal losses, raising enough revenue to pay off their patronage networks and
militias. The renewed conflict in the Niger Delta constitutes a growing
challenge both the Nigerian government and the international community who are
much interested in the regions oil wealth. Consequently, renewed efforts by the
federal government to end hostility in the region has not yielded the much
significant expected gains. Therefore, the research seeks to investigate the
Resurgence of militancy in the Niger delta, implication for Nigeria’s economy.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Militant group has renewed the growing tension of
conflict in the Niger Delta and has continually posed a fundamental domestic
challenge to Nigerian security for more than a decade. Militant attack on oil
facilities has dropped the production output of oil per barrel per day in the
region. Production is currently 20 to 25 percent below capacity. The conflict
in the Niger Delta emanates from the protests alleging the neglect of the
region and the disenfranchisement of the region’s communities against their
political, economic and environmental rights. Consequently, Militia groups in
the region have constantly taken up arms against the federal government. Some
of the groups are purportedly being sponsored by politicians and government
officials. Therefore, the problem confronting the research is appraise the
Resurgence of militancy in the Niger delta, implication for Nigeria’s economy.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
i.
To investigate the nature of the Niger
Delta region.
ii.
To identify the nature of the
militancy in the Niger delta region.
iii. To
examine the impacts of the resurgence of militancy in the Niger delta region On
Nigeria’s economic.
1.4 Research Questions
i.
What is the nature of the Niger Delta
region?
ii.
What is the nature of militancy in the
Niger delta region?
iii. What
are the impacts of the resurgence of militancy in the Niger delta region On
Nigeria’s economic?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study shall proffer an appraisal of the
Resurgence of militancy in the Niger delta, and its implication on the Nigerian
economy.
1.6 Research Hypothesis
Ho: The impact of the resurgence of
militancy of the Niger delta region on Nigeria’s economy is not significant.
Hi: The impact of the resurgence of
militancy of the Niger delta region on Nigeria’s economy is significant.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on the appraisal of the Resurgence
of militancy in the Niger delta, implication for Nigeria’s economy.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
The study was confronted by some constraints
including logistics and geographical factor.
1.9 Definition of Terms
SECURITY
Security means protection from hidden and hurtful
disruptions in the patterns of daily life in homes, offices or communities.
Security may also be defined as the state of being or making safe secure from
danger, etc.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPEMENT
Socio-economic development constitutes the process
of social and economic development in a given place. Which is measured with
indicators as GDP, life levels of employment, expectancy, literacy etc. and
Changes in less-tangible factors such as personal dignity, freedom of
association, personal safety and freedom from fear of physical harm.
CONFLICT
Conflict refers to some form of friction,
disagreement, or discord arising within a group when the beliefs or actions of
one or more members of the group are either resisted by or unacceptable to one
or more members of another group.