A Shaky Peace: Re-interrogating Resource Distribution and Social Conflict in the Niger Delta Region within the Context of Federalism in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper depending essentially on documents and accounts in the extant literature examines the nexus between social conflict and resource distribution in Nigeria focusing on the agitations of the oil producing Niger Delta minorities. It argues that while Nigeria is a constitutional federalism, the functioning of the state in resource or revenue distribution among the constituent units have not been guided by the ethos of federalism. This has engendered a situation in which the citizens of the Niger Delta perceive the resource distribution system as not only uncharacteristic of true federalism but equally as a system manipulated to perpetuate socioeconomic marginalization on the minorities of the region even though the region produces the lion share of Nigeria's revenue. But in as much as federalism remains the best option in view of Nigeria's heterogeneous nature, there is need for federalism to be anchored on the true spirit of political and fiscal decentralization. This would severely curtail social conflicts, deal with recurrent ethno-regional agitations, and engender the consensus needed to build a virile nation.