Political and economic instability worsen in Nigeria as militants attack various oil facilities, sabotage wells, and kill hostages.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, has claimed responsibility in many of these attacks, in an effort to restore oil wealth to the local people.
In 2006, MEND began their campaign, or “oil war”, in the swamps and creeks of oil-laden southern Nigeria.
A MEND spokesman said, “the problems facing our dear country Nigeria have nothing to do with militant freedom fighters but with the corrupt political leadership and certain arrogant tribes still living on past glory.”
In reference to the most recent attack which left five people burned beyond recognition at an oil tanker wharf at Atlas Cove, in Lagos’ Tarkwa Bay, MEND said, “We encountered some slight resistance from the Nigerian navy guarding the facility but they were easily overpowered.”
MEND also claimed to have “injured or killed” at least nine of the navy personnel, but this has not been verified.
As of January 2009, Nigeria had an estimated 36.2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, mainly along the country’s Niger River Delta and offshore in the Bight of Benin, the Bight of Bonny, and the Gulf of Guinea.
Though MEND’s campaign officially began in 2006, the Niger Delta has suffered vandalism of pipelines, kidnappings, and facility sabotage and forceful takeovers since late-2005.
This has resulted in some oil companies closing their facilities in Nigeria and unions threatening to strike.
Production has been dramatically cut, and this affects the US, a major importer of Nigerian oil. Nigeria’s oil is a preferred gasoline feedstock.
This instability adversely affects trading patterns and refinery operations in North America and impacts oil market prices worldwide. US refiners have been affected so much that some have completely stopped buying Nigerian crude.
Threats of further escalation and even civil war loom in a nation with large oil wealth but extremely poor people. 71% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, and 92% live on less than $2 a day.
MEND’s efforts are gathering momentum as impoverished citizens realize they should stand to gain from the oil reserves that lie below their slums.
In an email from 2006, MEND warned foreign oil companies in Nigeria, “It must be clear that the Nigerian government cannot protect your workers or assets. Leave our land while you can or die in it…. Our aim is to totally destroy the capacity of the Nigerian government to export oil.”
Many, however, do not believe this is the right approach to solve the economic inequities in the nation’s oil wealth.
“MEND say they want the oil wealth to be shared but then they also say they want to destroy the industry,” said Lagos small business owner Oluwatimilehin.
“At this rate there will be no oil left even for them.”