Nigerian Oil: Bullets, Poverty and Corruption

Oil! Oil! Oil! If not for the l's it would be a suitable chant for a punk rock song, but unfortunately it is something that is the only thing on some people's minds. With gas prices beginning to rise, yet again, and winter making a comeback when spring should be walking through the seasonal door, daily commute can become a pricy and dangerous expense. However, while us Americans are complaining about the rising gas prices and blaming George Bush for all our problems there are people around the world who have legitimate reasons to voice their concerns.

Unfortunately the only voice these people have is the blast of a gun. Nigerians, mainly the group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), are fighting back against the wretched oil corporations that have tainted their country for too long. Nigeria is one of the biggest oil producing countries in Africa and the world, but the native Nigerians have not seen a single drop of the profits from the oil that is pumped out of the African country's ground each day. In fact, the only kickbacks received from the oil companies is a country in turmoil and polluted drinking water.

With their Nigerian brothers and sisters starving and drinking oil-polluted water, MEND is taking an active stand against the corrupt Nigerian government who is in bed with the profiteering oil company swine. Recently MEND made headlines with their kidnapping of oil workers on the Royal Dutch Shell's offshore oil rig. The hostages were eventually released unharmed and were treated humanely according to the hostages, but the consensus of the Nigerian government among other nations is that MEND is a dangerous terrorist group.

This is of no surprise when many of these countries rely on Nigerian oil, which makes up 95% of Nigerian export. With such a huge demand for Nigerian oil why are many of the inhabitants of the Niger Delta living without electricity or running water? As mentioned earlier much of the money made on oil removed from the Niger Delta is not distributed to these impoverished regions. While the Nigerian government offered a proposal to the Ijaw group MEND, it was promptly denied as it did not result in the removal and closure of many of the Niger Delta based oil refineries.

If the oil refineries are not removed or closed down, MEND promises to carry out devastating attacks on the poorly-secured refineries. The effects such attacks will have on the American economy were seen in smaller attacks committed in 2006. A minor attack on one of the Nigerian pipelines caused oil prices to skyrocket from $50 a barrel to $70 a barrel. However, a major attack could drive the price per barrel to an unaffordable level, which could potentially cripple the American economy. MEND has been patient with their demands and has not been reckless with their attacks. Their actions are not out of hate for the government and oil companies but out of love for their people who are struggling to survive on a daily basis. Nevertheless, if a resolution is not reached the impact of a serious attack on Nigerian oil refineries could have major repercussions throughout the world. So the next time you are about to complain about gas prices remember it could be far worse. At least you don't have to worry about whether or not your water is tainted with oil.