THE IMPACT OF INEFFICIENT COMPENSATION ON THE RISING INCIDENCE OF ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING AND INSECURITY IN THE NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study analyzed the compensation for the people of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria for the effects of oil exploration and exploitation in the region. In the aftermath of oil bunkering and the insecurity that trails it, the recompense of victims became cumbersome and murky. Over the decades, Nigeria descended into one of the world's most insecure and petroleum-polluted countries. In her Niger Delta region, human and habitat destruction as well as illegal oil bunkering are some of the huge effects of the oil exploration and exploitation of her oil sector. These factors are cumulative and have functioned in concert with other environmental pressures to degrade ecosystems and jeopardize human livelihoods and health in this region of Nigeria. As a result of these unfortunate events, individuals and the host communities in the Niger Delta region, including landowners, pond owners, and other property owners keep demanding for appropriate compensation. Following the years that have gone by without any adequate compensatory response from the government, issues like illegal bunkering and militant group operations arose to harvest compensatory benefits from pipelines, carting away oil from lands within the oil producing region. Therefore, this study made efforts to determine the impacts of the government’s neglect to meet the needs of the people in the Niger Delta region. Furthermore, it examined compensations that are proper in a political system that lacks legislative and administrative guidelines, and framework to effectively deal with the issue of petroleum compensations resulting from sabotage, bunkering, and even multinational oil company activities.