A Sustainable Approach to Nigeria’s Energy Sector

Abstract

The Human Rights watch traveled to the Niger Delta, in Nigeria to investigate human rights concerns. They discovered that “repeated incidents in which people were brutalized for attempting to raise grievances with the companies; in some cases security forces threatened, beat, and jailed members of community delegations even before they presented their cases. Such abuses often occurred on or adjacent to company property, or in the immediate aftermath of meetings between company officials and individual claimants or community representatives.” (Human Rights 1999) Community members of Nigeria have demanded compensation for use of their land for oil spills or other environmental damage. They have pleaded with oil companies for employment opportunities with oil industry projects, or development projects for their villages. They have asked Western Companies for access to the wealth that makes them [Chevron, Shell, oil, and Exon] wealthier.