Oilpolitics and violence in the Niger Delta of Nigeria: the role of regional elite (2005-2016)

The scrambling for oil and the outbreak of violence in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria have attracted the attentions of scholars and policymakers, with most of the research focus on their driving factors. Nonetheless, less attention has been given on the roles played by the elites in generating this conflict. Hence, this study is intended to fill this vacuum by examining the roles of these elites in political and electoral violence and analyzing their demands for resource control and political restructuring of Nigeria. It also assesses the effectiveness or otherwise of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and examines the transparency and accountability of the elites in the management of resources. This study recommends several measures to resolve this conflict. Qualitative method is used in this study to elicit in-depth information on the elites’ role in the Niger Delta conflict. Twelve interviewees took part in the study, and semi-structured interview technique was used for data gathering. Interviews were conducted in four states, with purposive sampling and snowballing techniques were employed in recruiting the participants. The recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The findings show that the elites have contributed to the conflict through mismanagement of the region’s resources, and by financing, fraternising and co-opting militia groups into the government. They also spearheaded the upward review of the revenue allocation formula and recommended amnesty for Niger Delta militants. The research findings also demonstrate that multinational oil companies and the Nigerian Federal Government were also responsible for trigering terrorism in the region. Both elite theories - resource control and frustration-aggression theories, together with the theoretical model developed by the researcher, could enhance understanding of this conflict. This study recommends, among others, prudent use of resources, provision of social amenities, monitoring of activities of oil companies and sanctioning of politicians who are found guilty of misusing the youths to incite trouble. The study concludes that for peace to reign in the region, various stakeholders, especially the elites, should muster their political will and show commitment towards regional development through actions rather than just giving rhetorical speech