Nigeria-Problems with oil wealth

Question 1

What does OPEC stand for?

Answer 1

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Question 2

When did Nigeria going OPEC?

Answer 2

Mid-1970’s

Question 3

Where was the oil in Nigeria first extracted from?

Answer 3

Niger Delta

Question 4

When was oil first extracted in Nigeria?

Answer 4

1956

Question 5

Name 3 of Nigeria’s oil export destinations:

Answer 5

USA- 40%
Western Europe- 21%
Asia+Pacific- 16%

Question 6

Name the 5 main transnational corporations (TNC’s):

Answer 6

Shell
Total
Agip
Exxon Mobil 
Chevron

Question 7

How many oil fields do the TNC’s operate collectively?

Answer 7

159 oil fields

Question 8

How many flow stations do the TNC’s operate collectively?

Answer 8

275 flow stations

Question 9

How many miles of pipelines do the TNC’s operate collectively?

Answer 9

4500 miles of pipelines

Question 10

Problems: Elaborate on Nigeria importing more food than it produces.

Answer 10

Nigeria is no longer self-sufficient with food. Both communities+ the government have neglected agriculture in pursuit of oil wealth.

Question 11

What is the population of Nigeria?

Answer 11

130 million (the most populated country in Africa).

Question 12

Provlems: Elaborate on refineries in Nigeria are old+poorly run.

Answer 12

They result in frequent breakdowns. Therefore Nigeria has to import some of its fuel.

Question 13

How does the World Bank describe Nigeria and why?

Answer 13

“A fragile state” because of failed governance, epidemic disease and the risk of armed conflict.

Question 14

Problems: elaborate on very poor quality of life.

Answer 14

This is according to the United Nations. Most nigerians live on less than one dollar a day. Fifty years of oil extraction has failed to improve the lives of the majority of people. Critics blame the government and the transnational oil companies.

Question 15

Problems: expand on corrupt government.

Answer 15

Trickle down effect to the country’s poor is extremely limited. Nigeria’s anticorruption agency estimated that in 2003, 70% of oil revenues (more than 14 billion dollars) was stolen or wasted.

Question 16

Problems: Environment-elaborate on oil spills.

Answer 16

Oil spills, acid rain from gas+flares and the stripping away of mangroves for pipeline routes have killed off fish.

Question 17

Problems= Between 1986 and 2003 how many acres of of mangroves disappeared from the coast?

Answer 17

50,000 acres of mangroves

Question 18

What were the three main reasons for the removal of mangroves from the coast?

Answer 18

1) Land clearing
2) Canal dredging
3) Glad exploration

Question 19

What effects does burning natural gas off as flares?

Answer 19

Acid rain and releases greenhouse gases.

Question 20

How many oil spills has the government recognised since Nigeria began to produce oil?

Answer 20

6817, yet critics believe it to be more.

Question 21

What effects has construction and increased ship traffic had on the environment?

Answer 21

It has changed local wave patterns causing shore erosion and the migration of fish into deeper water (more difficult for fishermen).

Question 22

When did The Federal Environmental Protection Agency come into action?

Answer 22

1988

Question 23

When were the Environmental Impact Assessments made compulsory?

Answer 23

1992

Question 24

What are Environmental Impact Assessments?

Answer 24

Documents which are required by law, detailing the impacts of the environment of an energy project above a certain size.

Question 25

Why do the local people struggle to find an alternative source of employment to fishing?

Answer 25

They are forced to give up fishing due to reduced fish stocks. Most jobs go to members of the country’s majority ethnic groups (eg. Fulani and Igbo).

Question 26

Name two of the main ethnic groups in Nigeria:

Answer 26

Fulani and Igbo

Question 27

What is a major problem with ethnicity?

Answer 27

There are over 20 ethnic groups, so there is a lot of ethnic rivalry due to their histories.

Question 28

Name four areas the people of the Niger Delta accuse the government of inadequate investment to:

Answer 28

1) Schools
2) Hospitals
3) Housing
4) Other forms of infrastructure

Question 29

Name two reasons why local rebel groups attack the oil industry:

Answer 29

Either out of frustration or in an attempt to gain benefits for the region.

Question 30

What does the rebel group MEND stand for?

Answer 30

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

Question 31

When and where did the MEND rebel group attack?

Answer 31

In 2006, the rebel group were armed and carried out intensified attacks on oil platforms and pumping stations.

Question 32

How has violence from rebel groups affected the oil industry?

Answer 32

A rise in violence has affected the country’s financial stability and its ability to supply crude oil to the outside world.