Just yesterday, someone that happens to be a non Niger Deltan wrote an article to ask what next is for Niger Delta region when oil "value" diminishes. I think it is appropriate to address the subject so as to educate some of our people.

Price, Not Value of Oil is Crashing:
Permit me to establish a fact. Crude oil value is not becoming useless, the fall in the price of the product has to do with excess supply of the product in the market. For avoidance of doubt, crude oil price started crashing in July 2014 majorly after Saudi Arabia and some other countries such as Russia, Canada(gas) and Iraq increased production. Also, the coming into the market of the USA(that used to be buyers) up the product in the market, this however is not so significant. At present, the product is oversupplied (no thanks to Saudi). Hence, the drop(and continuous drop) in the price of the product. Unfortunately, Iran will be coming into full force in 2016. Though there is price crash, the value of oil has not diminished and won't be anytime soon. The fall in price has nothing to do with the value of the product, it is due to over-supply. As long as people use gas and petrochemical, there will always be demand for crude oil.

Not The First Time Oil Price Is Crashing:
This is not the first time that oil price will crash. It will be recalled that while oil price boomed from $40 per barrel in 2004 to $147 per barrel in July 2008, it slumped to $130 pb in September(2008), less than $70pb in October and less than $60pb in November 2008. In fact, the lowest fall in the price was in December when it fell to $30.8 pb. In February 2009 when it was $35 pb. It only took few months for the price of the product that was on free fall between September 2008 to February 2009 to pick up and rise to $117 pb in June 2014 before the present fall in price that started in July 2014.

I believe that the price of the product will bounce back when the major cartels(Saudi Arabia especially) are tired of their game and move for supply cut. The rise may even start from mid 2016 or towards the fourth quarter of that year. There is a huge challenge but no cause for alarm.

Niger Delta's Survival Not Tied To Oil Export:
Before the advent of crude oil in 1956, Niger Delta was a major exporter of palm oil. In fact, we were called "Oil Rivers" by the British (1885) because of our oil palm export. In fact, before the crude oil craze, 90% of Eastern region's export was palm oil as at early 60s. Nigeria was exporting 1/3 of the world's palm oil as at then. The coming of oil dollars made government to forget about palm oil. That doesn't mean we don't know our root.

Secondly, in the event that oil becomes unattractive, because we are richly blessed with crude oil, we can always build refineries, refine the product and export the refined product(petrol, kerosene and diesel) as well as petrochemical products. This will open windows of more dollars to the Niger Delta and create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.

Thirdly, though some of our lands and water have been polluted, we still have arable lands in our kitty. We can always revert to fishing and full scale agriculture.

Fourthly, our proximity to the sea comes with its attendant benefit. We have existing ports in Rivers state(Onne Port, Port Harcourt port and several jetties), Delta state(Warri port, Burutu port, Sapele Port, Escravos, Forcados and Pennington) and Cross river state(Calabar port). These ports have been of great service to our people even before the advent of crude oil.

Oil and Gas Still Very Much Relevant
I make bold to state that in the event that the product becomes "worthless"(in quote), the people of Niger Delta will never be broken. However, this won't be happening anytime soon. Not in the next 100years. As long as there is need for gasoline, solvent, plastic, detergents, Polymers, fibers, resin, aircraft fuel, gas etc, there will always be need for petroleum. Even the so-called biofuels requires lots of energy from natural gas to be produced. Whichever way one looks at it, the petrodollars will not stop flowing anytime soon, though it will encounter challenges. Nigeria's proven natural gas reserve is the 9th in the world. The highest producing states of the products are Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Edo states. Beyond oil and gas, the Niger Delta is blessed with other mineral resources so numerous to mention that can generate lots of revenues.

Finally, our God(or gods) in His infinite wisdom has blessed the people of Niger Delta and Nigeria with rich lands and waters. Those that assume that Niger Delta will 'suffer' because temporary slump in oil price should have rethink. We are a blessed people though we are yet to optimise our blessings. We are richly blessed! We are Proudly Niger Deltans! We are Proudly Nigerians!


Note: The Niger Delta region I'm referring to are the six states in the South South


May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria
Happy New Year 2016 in Advance

I just want 2 use this medium to wish all NLANDERS a prosperous new year in advance, 2K16 will be a year of irrevocable & irreversible blessings that will be unquantifiable for all of us. You reading this post & comment shall witness 2016 to the end & we shall have every reason to say God I thank at the end.. #shalom

Those saying crude oil is useless are just spiting nonsense it's just a matter of time before it rises again

CC: Truckpusher Coolscott Goodboiyy IzonOwei Philips70 Talktimi Stebell Hopeathand Mulattoclaro

Abeg, how many states are in Niger-delta?

Am here

Like someone pointed out, "before oil and after oil, Niger Deltan survived and will survive". That statement in itself is human adaptation at its finest.

I am glad this situation is being brought to notice early so we can task our governments in the different states in the ND to prepare and plan for life after crude oil crash? to enable the effects be watered down.

I know not all the rivers and farmlands in the ND have been degraded by oil spill. We will ensure the Nigerian govt and oil multinationals clean up the rivers and lands. It has already began with Ogoni, others will follow later.

The need for survival will ensure we look inwards.We have ports littered allover the ND that will be made functional, we still have arable lands that can be used for industrial farming like Risonpalm did in the 80's and clean rivers and creeks for fish farming and farming of other seafoods like Amaechi did at Buguma.

It is not bleak as painted in that thread, it is even brighter. All we pray for are leaders who have dedicated themselves to serve the people of the ND.

Tonyebarcanista

bettercreature:
Those saying crude oil is useless are just spiting nonsense it's just a matter of time before it rises again

Exactly! Those celebrating the oil price crash does so in ignorance

Tonye,

You get time ooo

These people are tackling the Niger Delta with the "oyel money" they all tagged "our commonwealth" when the market was good ,now that its uncertain if the market value will rise or fall, they are now openly tagging it "Niger Delta Oyel" .

Abeg,enjoy your new year and let's see what nature has in stock for us all in 2016 .

as usual...... tony will never disappoint. always ranting like a toothless bull dog

HopeAtHand:
Booked

Tonyebarcanista

Space bookers are looters! Welcome

v

Why are the igbos the ones attacking south south over oil?

It says a lot about that fraud of a nation igbos are concocting.

Those saying Niger Delta can't survive without oil are sufferring from what called chronic bad bellerism...The guy who created that is probably from Southwest why don't you remove the spliter in yours eyes so you see clearly to remove the one in your brother eyes.

mrborntodoit:
Tonye,

You get time ooo

These people are tackling the Niger Delta with the "oyel money" they all tagged "our commonwealth" when the market was good ,now that its uncertain if the market value will rise or fall, they are now openly tagging it "Niger Delta Oyel" .

Abeg,enjoy your new year and let's see what nature has in stock for us all in 2016 .

Thanks brother... The New Year we hope will bring good tidings.

Tonye is using this thread to console himself.
One sure thing I could take from the thread is:
The following ethnic groups in the South/South will survive with the alternative.
1) Bini/Ishan - Farming, Timber, Palmoil.
2) Afemai - Farming, Limestone.
3) Urhobo/Isoko/Itshekiri - Farming, Rubber, Timber.
4) Akwa/Cross - Farming, Palmoil, Timber, Tourism.
5) Anioma - Farming, Timber, Palmoil, Trade.
6) Ikwerre/Ahoada/Etche - Palmoil, Farming.
7) Ogoni - Palmoil, Rubber, Farming.
Ijaw - Fishing, Canoe making, Farming

When the oil becomes worthless everybody go answer him Papa name.

I believe the OP of that article was trying to urge the people of the ND to look beyond this "oyel" thing. The oil hasn't benefited the region as no infrastructure is visible even after the 13% derivation,NDDC and even Ministry of Niger Delta affairs.

The region should hold their leaders accountable,period.

TonyeBarcanista:

Thanks brother... The New Year we hope will bring good tidings.

Isée.......

Agimor:
Those saying Niger Delta can't survive without oil are sufferring from what called chronic bad bellerism...The guy who created that is probably from Southwest why don't you remove the spliter in yours eyes so you see clearly to remove the one in your brother eyes.

I think the creator of that thread is a SE guy that is misguided and misinformed. I was surprised though

Wellll

Chiwude:
Tonye is using this thread to console himself.

no what he wrote up there is the typical truth, niger delta is a region blessed with all types of oil, if one drop the other one will rise.
And yes we do farming too ask edo people.

aieromon:
I believe the OP of that article was trying to urge the people of the ND to look beyond this "oyel" thing. The oil hasn't benefited the region as no infrastructure is visible even after the 13% derivation,NDDC and even Ministry of Niger Delta affairs.

The region should hold their leaders accountable,period.

Yes, NDDC, NDA Ministry and our political leaders are part of the problem. Internal cleansing is necessary and is in the offing.

Agimor:
Those saying Niger Delta can't survive without oil are sufferring from what called chronic bad bellerism...The guy who created that is probably from Southwest why don't you remove the spliter in yours eyes so you see clearly to remove the one in your brother eyes.

The creator of the thread is a south beasterner

Agimor:
Those saying Niger Delta can't survive without oil are sufferring from what called chronic bad bellerism...The guy who created that is probably from Southwest why don't you remove the spliter in yours eyes so you see clearly to remove the one in your brother eyes.

He is actually from the cursed red mud land called Sad beast.

@Chiwude, you no go kill me.
But you fail to add my people to the list.
9)Egbema/Ogba/Ndoni - Farming, Palmoil, Trade.

CC:

Lalasticlala Seun Obinoscopy Dominique

even if the entire oil well of Nigeria dries up, the south-south states will not suffer, at least not as much as they would if they were on their own.

Nigeria's resources are in abundance and it's a shame that over the years we made the unhealthy choice on depending on one, Maybe because it encourages unaccountability and corruption or because it is easy money for Nigeria.

my prayer is that the value of the crude oil in the international market should further degenerate.

this should force us to become creative as a country and look inwards to industrialization.

necessity is the mother of invention. we will find a way.

what our past leaders didn't have the guts to do is now being forced upon us by circumstance.

I earlier mentioned that the country should allow for true federalism...But it is obvious all the other zones are still waiting patiently for the oil price so that they abandon the alternatives presented now...don't mind the loud mouths who are saying oil is becoming useless...if oil is becoming useless oya allow us control the oil resource fully na wahala..May I inform many here that most of the owners of oil Wells are non Niger deltans and also many employees of the oil companies are non Niger deltans,so what ever they say here like they don't care about oil is All a farce...we Niger deltans have been too foolish and welcoming to allow non Niger deltans run the affairs of oil and gas for too long..

Let us push for resource control now that oil price is at an all time low..

We would produce gas,build refineries,generate power ,fish and export,engage in palm oil export,rice farming etc...Make I see why we no go progress ....