The book, “The politics of Petroleum and the Sustainability of the Niger Delta,” is a product of the:
i) need to address social injustice and marginalization occasioned by the quest to acquire wealth through petroleum resources to the detriment of the people who bear the environmental hazards of the petroleum exploitation.
ii) need to sustain the people both in their ecological setting and environmental degradation occasioned by the need to restore in a greater extent, a social milieu where generations unborn can live a sustainable livelihood.
The background of the book exrays the foundation of the social degradation which is the discovery of oil in Oloibiri in Commercial Quantity in present Bayelsa State which is fast drying up.
The impact of oil mineral pollution in the Niger Delta has been a perennial one and has been highly devastating. It takes the form of land destruction, deforestation, land pollution, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, thermal pollution, environmental degradation. Agricultural soil quality depreciation destroys and reduces fish life, fishing production, destruction by toxic wastes of aquatic flora. Aquatic macro physics vegetation of the littoral zone are vulnerable.
Incidents of oil spillage abound in the Niger Delta especially in areas such as Ikot Abasi, Gbaram Kingdom, Ukubie Communities, Ojobo, Bikorogha, Ilaje & Ese Odo, Akpata, Opuba, Owoye, Ugbo.etc.
It is therefore instructive to note that several nationalities and ethnic nations had over time sued and complained over the oil prospecting bodies’ activities and poor social responsibility in addressing their plight. Ogonis never hid their feelings in reiterating the gains Government has made over oil resources and yet without corresponding national policy in addressing their own plight. This made them to come up with the Bill of Rights of 1992 where they called for political control over their own affairs. Resources control, adequate and direct representation as of right for Ogoni, right to protect Ogoni environment and ecology from further degradation. It did not attract government attention then they appealed to the International world to the extent of referring to the British to assist them restore AUTONOMY
We are all living witnesses to the fact that the Nigeria economy enjoys the foreign reserve (earning) through Petroleum resources. Where Nigerian oil is tampered with today, States will all catch cold while Aso Rock will be jittery.
Infact, from Independence to date, Federal Government has been able to build sky scrapers and constructed good roads in Abuja and elsewhere with petroleum fund. Industries had been developed, employment has been galvanized.
The Revenue Allocation formula based on derivation in Nigeria had been on downward trend to the detriment of the oil producing areas. Though lately, we can see government’s desire to maintain a reasonable percentage.
Incidentally, Government came up with state policy through OMPADEC and lately NDDC. Their operations were all attempts at scratching the real issue at the surface. However, NDDC had gone deeper with the programme of Niger Delta Action Plan. The creation of Niger Delta Ministry is equally a fundamental development at addressing the Niger Delta question of survival. The Amnesty office made concerted efforts at training the traumatically challenged youths and many of them have been developed. It is yet on course, but has not arrived at the required destination due to fresh emerging interests.
Meanwhile, the non violent youths need to be taken along in the circumstances for if we fail, we are only reserving a large army of responsible youths to be tapped into an ignited society of want and suffering.
We thank God for states Oil Producing Area Commissions taking the bull by the horn by ensuring that the youths are captured through implementation of enduring projects. It is hoped that necessary strategies shall be continually adopted to ensure equitable distribution of social infrastructure.
Therefore, to ensure a sustainable Niger Delta, we must put in place:
 reliable democratic process that can enhance good governance;
 community social responsibility based on consultation with stake holders;
 partnership based on local interest that could breed development and growth;
 health programmes that ensure good living conditions;
 involve Niger Delta people in management of their resources;
 a resources management principle that encourage minimum of 40% from the derivation fund and 60% for the generality of the country; (see analysis in the book.)
 a national process that accommodates all shades of interest at the levels of Presidency, Governorship and Local Government Chairmanship especially at the Niger Delta region;
 upward review of the 13% derivation fund to not less than 40%;
 diversification from oil to Agriculture production;
 mobilization of youths to form labour vanguard for community development;
 indigenes of oil producing areas to be trained in employable skills in Oil Companies and Sand filling of swamps to create new cities;
 Niger Delta must be properly defined and addressed appropriately in matters that affect the areas;
 we should live in peace and harmony and evolve deliberate grassroots developmental strategies to work on the psyche of the people;
 communities are to equally report burst pipes by putting National Interest at heart;
 there must be fiscal federalism to allow the building of confidence in Nigeria;
 solid Minerals be mined and developed for national use to prevent over dependence on oil wealth;
 greed be shunned, no amount of money accumulated could be managed by ones family members for life;
 let’s work and allow the Niger Delta to live and the future shall be surely guaranteed.
Contact the following for copies of the book:
Barr. IWABI, T. Akpoebi 08035784146, 08087446207.
WARIEGBE Perelatei Joe 08034615693.
KUETE Noel 08166222990.
MIYENBAI Iwabi (AKA Tobe) 08038239977.
IWABI Ebidaubra (AKA Toyi) 08033918383.
WARIEGBE Blessing (Miss) 08101807664.

the book is worth buying, I read it once, I will like to read it again. the book goes down the history of Nigeria. May God bless the author

Toscoas2:
the book is worth buying, I read it once, I will like to read it again. the book goes down the history of Nigeria. May God bless the author

Thanks