Interrogating Frustration-Aggression from Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta Conflict

294 Pages·2016·2.14 MB·English

Interrogating Frustration-Aggression from Environmental
Degradation in the Niger Delta Conflict

Oil greed = Self-Inflicted-Frustration: Govmt/MNOCs
R einforci ng
vicious cycle
of violence
Gap in Literature
Filled

Reactive Aggression Instrumental Aggression

OBHCs frustrated Govmt/MNOCs

BY

AKAHALU, UCHENNIA AUSTYN (N0296354)

SUPERVISORS: DR S. DUTT; DR M. GIBERT & DR I. EL-ANIS

A DOCTORAL THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENT OF THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY,
UNITED KINGDOM, FOR THE AWARD OF THE DOCTOR OF
PHILOSOPHY DEGREE (PhD) IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

OCTOBER, 2014
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ABSTRACT

This study interrogates what motivates the major beneficiaries of the Bayelsa State
(Niger Delta) environment – the multinational oil corporations (MNOCs) and the
Nigerian government (NG) to degrade that environment – their benefactor. The
special interest of this thesis lies in understanding why the degradation continued
even with the knowledge that their actions threaten the existence of the indigenous
oil-bearing host communities (OBHCs) of Bayelsa State (Niger Delta). Irrespective of
the fact that the Niger Delta conflict has been a favourite subject for scholars over
the years, this particular aspect of the conflict has not been found amongst the
literature consulted for this study. To fill this gap, this thesis interrogates this
phenomenon.

To address this phenomenon, this study reviewed relevant literature to understand
the dynamics of environmental degradation through the application of instrumental
aggression by the major beneficiaries, and the reactive aggression employed by the
OBHCs, as a response to the former. Employing ethnographic tools for data
collection involving in-depth interviews, participant observation and focus group
discussions, the frustration-aggression theory deployed here emphasises that an
individual or a group that has experienced severe deprivations, marginalisation or
obstructions in reaching its goal, may transform from a frustrated group to an
aggressive one. With the use of this theoretical framework and the proposed
theoretical model: Self-Inflicted-Frustration-Aggression-Theory (SIFAT), this study
found that the Niger Delta’s connection with the defunct Republic of Biafra was
responsible for their neglect, marginalization, violation and the despoliation of its
environment. The thesis found that the obstructions to OBHCs’ constitutional means
of resolving the problem was the major factor transforming frustrations into
aggression and violent conflict in Bayelsa state (Niger Delta).
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These findings help to fill a gap in the International Relations literature on the Niger
Delta conflict. The findings have equally provided a clear knowledge about why the
Niger Delta crisis has refused to go away.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This is to express my heartfelt gratitude to my wonderful team of supervisors whose
invaluable wealth of knowledge and experience made this thesis possible. Dr. Chris
Farrands’ fatherly role is a bundle of inspiration towards this completed work of art.
Dr. Roy Smith’s uncommon academic wisdom and advice as the Independent
Assessor charted a motivational course for this investigation. The Graduate School I
thank for its resourcefulness.

I thank also my humble family for its steadfastness, patience, and understanding
throughout the study time. All my respondents, I thank you for your time, shared
experiences and knowledge. If you had not contributed your quota by participating in
this study, this scholarship may not have been contributed towards understanding
how frustrations from your environmental degradation drive the cross accusations
that culminate in aggression and violent conflict in the Niger Delta.

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DEDICATION

To the ever-green loving Memory of my Father and Mother:
Mr & Mrs Chibunine & Chinahaeghe AkahaluOnyionu
Who despite all odds had the prudence to send me to school.

EQUALLY,
To my One and Only True Love: Mrs NkeUche AkahaluOnyionu
And To Him that is He:
Master Marvellous Ibuchim Manna AkahaluOnyionu

For their fervent effervescence.

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ACRONYMS
ACLED - The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project
AG – Associated Gas
BALGA – Brass Local Government Area
Bonga FPSO –Floating Production, Storage and offloading facilities in Bonga
BSc – Bachelor of Science degree
CIA - The American Central Intelligence Agency
CLO – Civil Liberties Organisation
C2C – Cradle to Career
CORDIS – Community Research and Development Information Service
COSEEDECS – Council on Social and Economic Development of Coastal States
DFRRI – Directorate for Food, Road, and Rural Infrastructures
DPR – Department of Petroleum Resources
ECCR – The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility
ED – Environmental Degradation
EGASPIN - Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industries in
Nigeria
EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment
ENMOD – Environmental Modification
ERA – Environmental Rights Action
FAO – Food and Agricultural Organisation
FAT – Frustration-Aggression Theory
FADT - Frustration–Aggression–Displacement Theory.
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FD – Frustration Displacement
FEPA – Federal Environmental Protection Agency
FGDs – Focus Group Discussions
GMoU – Global Memorandum of Understanding
GWP – Global Water Partnership
HND – Higher National Diploma
HPT – Hypothesis
ICESCR – The United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights
ICG - International Crisis Group

IDIs – In-Depth Interviews
OBHCs – Oil-Bearing Host Communities
IOGP – Integrated Oil and Gas Project
IYC – Ijaw Youth Council
JIV – Joint Inspection Visit
JTF – Joint Military Task Force composed of the army, the navy and the police

KD – Kaiama Declaration
LGAs – Local Government Areas
LPG – Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas)
MEND – Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta
MNOCs – Multinational Oil Corporations
MORETO – Movement for Reparation to Ogbia
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MOSOP – Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People
NAFDAC – National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control
NAPE – Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists
NDDB – Niger Delta Development Board
NDDC – Niger Delta Development Commission
NDE – The Niger Delta’s Environment
NDPVF – Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force
NDRDMP - Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan
NDR – The Niger Delta Republic
NG – Nigerian Government
NGO – Non-Governmental Organisation
NLNG – Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas
NNPC – Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
NOSDRA – National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency
OMPADEC – Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission
PIB – Petroleum Industry Bill
PO – Participant Observation
RNC – Royal Niger Company
RRs – Research Respondents
RQ Research Questions
SALGA – Sagbama Local Government Area
SIFAT – Self-Inflicted-Frustration-Aggression Theory
SNEPCo – Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production company
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SPDC – Shell Petroleum Development Company
TA - Transferred Aggression
TEEB – The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
UNEP – United Nations Environmental Programme
USDA – United States Department o Agriculture
USEPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency
USIP - The United States Institute of Peace
WHO – World Health Organization
YELGA – Yenagoa Local Government area

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT……......................................................................i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………….....ii
DEDICATION…………………………………………………......iii
LIST OF ACRONYMS...………………………………………….iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS..………………………….…………....viii
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION..………………………….………………
…..1
1.0 Overview………………………………………………………………………….1
1.1 Environmental Degradation: Its nexus with frustration & Aggression in the
Niger Delta Conflict……………………………………………………………..2
1.2 Setting the stage……….…………………………………………………….….4
1.3 Statement of research problem………………………………………………..8
1.4 Research aim of study…………………………………………………………10
1.5 Research questions……………………………………………………………11
1.6 Research hypothesis………………………………………………………….12
1.7 Significance of this research………………………………………………….12
1.8 Limitations of this research……………………………………………………15
1.9 Proposed theoretical model: SIFAT………………………………………….16
1.10 Major areas of research contributions……………………………………….18
1.11 Thesis structure ………... ………………………………………........20
CHAPTER 2
DEFINING THE NIGER DELTA CONFLICT BOUNDARIES:
THE RESOURCE CURSE OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION THEORETICAL TRAJECTORY
2.0 Overview………………………………………………………………………….23
2.1 The Niger Delta Resource Conflict……………………………….…………….24
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