Citation

Watts MJ, Ibaba IS. Afr. Secur. 2011; 4(1): 1-19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/19392206.2011.563181

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has been engulfed by oil-related conflict for over two decades now, and concerns pertaining to Nigeria's national security, economic stability, and global energy security have been brought to the fore of global discourse. This paper reflects on the character and dynamics of oil turbulence and in particular the transformation of the conflict from a community protest against oil industry operations to insurgency and the counterinsurgent responses by state security forces. The article indentifies the availability of arms, endemic corruption, state violence, patterns of corporate practice, and the politics of oil revenue distribution as central to the origins of the contemporary crisis. The paper interrogates the amnesty program and draws attention to incomplete disarmament, poor post amnesty rehabilitation, and political contradictions as possible threats to its success.