Nigeria is plagued by conflicts between various ethnic groups, issues of widespread government corruption and ineffectiveness, and by conflicts concerning the production and sale of oil. These problems are all especially evident in the Niger Delta. As a resident of the Niger Delta and an ethnic minority within Nigeria, I have a unique perspective on the situations at hand, as well as how they aught to be remedied. I hope to see citizens of the Delta gain an increased amount of regional autonomy, as well as to see the Delta receive more financial benefits for its role in the nation’s largest and most profitable export. I hope to see these changes reflected in new fiscal and environmental government policies, in conjunction with greater
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Since Nigeria was established as an independent country in 1960, we have had 16 different leaders, all from a myriad of religious and ethnic backgrounds. It is to be expected that there would be a high level of diversity between leaders, as there are approximately 250 different ethnic groups in Nigeria, many of which correspond to specific religious groups. The extreme diversity of our nation, in conjunction with its federalist system, results in a weak state. The federalist system divides the state, suppresses ethnic and religious minority groups, and causes many people to identify with their specific ethnic group rather than as “Nigerian,” thereby further polarizing individual citizens from one another. Government corruption is common throughout Nigeria, but it is especially apparent to residents of the Niger Delta, one of the poorest regions of the …show more content…
We have been taken advantage of and abused for far too long. Our home is being destroyed, our livelihoods are becoming obsolete, and even our drinking water is poisonous. The Niger Delta is already one of the most impoverished parts of the nation, without us losing our means of supporting ourselves or becoming ill from water that is no longer potable. We bear the brunt of the consequences from the oil drilling and processing in our country, and yet we reap none of the rewards. Instead of being reintroduced into our economy, the majority of the revenue from the oil processing is stolen or wasted by the ineffective members of our impermanent government. This is unacceptable, and while I do not support violence as a means of bringing about change, I can understand why others in my community might feel the need to join a militia, or a group like MEND, so that they might feel like they are doing something to bring about
Since Nigeria was established as an independent country in 1960, we have had 16 different leaders, all from a myriad of religious and ethnic backgrounds. It is to be expected that there would be a high level of diversity between leaders, as there are approximately 250 different ethnic groups in Nigeria, many of which correspond to specific religious groups. The extreme diversity of our nation, in conjunction with its federalist system, results in a weak state. The federalist system divides the state, suppresses ethnic and religious minority groups, and causes many people to identify with their specific ethnic group rather than as “Nigerian,” thereby further polarizing individual citizens from one another. Government corruption is common throughout Nigeria, but it is especially apparent to residents of the Niger Delta, one of the poorest regions of the …show more content…
We have been taken advantage of and abused for far too long. Our home is being destroyed, our livelihoods are becoming obsolete, and even our drinking water is poisonous. The Niger Delta is already one of the most impoverished parts of the nation, without us losing our means of supporting ourselves or becoming ill from water that is no longer potable. We bear the brunt of the consequences from the oil drilling and processing in our country, and yet we reap none of the rewards. Instead of being reintroduced into our economy, the majority of the revenue from the oil processing is stolen or wasted by the ineffective members of our impermanent government. This is unacceptable, and while I do not support violence as a means of bringing about change, I can understand why others in my community might feel the need to join a militia, or a group like MEND, so that they might feel like they are doing something to bring about