Some say it is a resource
curse in resource rich countries such as those in the Middle East and partly
Africa. They were supposed to be prosperous, peaceful, and that people will
live in harmony. However, plentiful of resource becomes a nightmare for some
countries. The question is “Is it bad or lucky to have bigger amount of
resource such as oil?” To some countries, it is because of resource rich that
can help them grow faster and become more stable nation, but for many Arab states
and African, it is resource that push them down to the ground and resulting a
chaotic society. What motivates fighting in a resource rich countries? Is it
because of unreliable and corrupted policy or is it because of economic
motivation so that people and states have to fight for in order to build their
stronger security?
In Nigeria, particularly
Niger Delta, is a resource rich region. Over 90 percent of national GDP comes
from this region, specifically through oil production. However, people in this region
did not benefit at all from this growth; rather the central government and
their class greatly earn big profit from which creates high tension among Niger
Delta people. Because of poor and unexpectedly highly deprivation, most people
including youth become rebellions and act in many ways against the central
government and companies. They made a mess in the whole region right now due to
a miserable, undisciplined, decrepit and corrupt form of ‘petro-capitalism. While
the state and oil companies have continued to profit enormously from oil
production, the rural population from where oil is produced has benefited the
least from its wealth. Environmental pollution, resulting in brackish swamp
forests and rivers, depletion of agricultural resources on land and the death
and extinction of aquamarine resources, gas flares, and acid rain, impacting negatively on the
health and physical lives of the region’s inhabitants, have dislocated local
communities, culminating in the impoverishment of the populace and insecurity
of the environment from which they gain their livelihoods.
A generation of youth, who
do not only feel embittered but have become militant in their approach to
seeking justice against the state’s military approach. This action has created
lots of unsmooth flow of energy production and transportation which after all shakes
the international market. So, to a bigger extent, this youth militancy has destabilized
the energy security in entire Nigeria nation and worldwide. However, the
question is does it have any connection between youth militancy and energy
security? Personally, it has nothing to do with energy security at all. This
youth action does not target to destabilize the energy supply since they also
need energy for daily using but they made a mess in order to claim for
compensation and the great loss that they are supposed to benefit from. Insecurity
and instability in Nigeria and probably the smooth flow of oil transportation
has something to do with great deprivation, corrupted government, higher rates
of unemployment, unequal distribution of economic opportunity and perhaps
massive discrimination in the Niger Delta. Energy interest is just one of
motivations for youth to rebel but equal treatment, fair opportunity and
equitable distribution of economic is.
Not only in Nigeria, in
fact, Africa but all over the world must take care of youth since they are so
powerful and not yet matured. They are the back bone of the society. They may
lead a community to become stronger and more growth but they also could lead to
destruction where there is unfair or harsh discrimination. It’s only oil that
drives youth to become rebellion but mismanagement of national policy from
whatever angle. Therefore, I see no connection between youth and energy
security. Rather the inability of the government and oil companies to readdress
problems culminated in the graduation of community youth from mere engagements
of sporadic protests at the community level to more popular engagements
worsened by the formation and activities of militant groups that profess the
interests of the poor oil-producing communities.
Energy is a source of
prosperity if it is well and properly used but a massive destruction if the
opposite comes to play. Hence, it is not about energy security that needs to be
taken care of but appropriate discussion on how to development at local people
rather helpful. Below are some possible solutions government, stakeholders and
citizens to altogether do are:
-
They should
find ways to recreate uniting high culture but this requires political will
-
Government
needs to take practical and holistic measures to diversify the economy
-
Lessen political
and economic inequity
-
Up-lifting
discrimination among people
-
Creating an
atmosphere of fair economic opportunity
-
Feasible
control of environmental pollution
-
Providing
development such as infrastructure, public service, school and hospital etc. at
local
-
Increasing
rule of law in entire nation
-
Promoting
good governance etc.
