OIL AND GUN: THE NIGERIAN DILEMMA

OIL AND GUN: THE NIGERIAN DILEMMA

This scholarly work aims to scrutinize the evolving dynamics of the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) on a global scale, with a particular emphasis on the African continent and, more specifically, the nation of Nigeria. It aims to comprehensively assess the deleterious consequences stemming from this lamentable phenomenon. Employing a meticulous curation of secondary sources, the research has unveiled a disconcerting dimension of arms proliferation within the sub-Saharan African region, with Nigeria, and in particular, the Niger Delta region, serving as the epicentre of this disconcerting trend. The proliferation of SALW has manifestly emerged as a preeminent security challenge confronting not only Nigeria but also the entirety of Africa, and indeed, the international community at large. The illicit trafficking and widespread availability of these armaments have significantly exacerbated communal strife, engendered political instability, and posed a multifaceted threat, not only to the realm of security but also to the prospects of sustainable development. This pervasive dissemination of SALW has precipitated an alarming surge in armed criminal activities and militant movements. Historically, the genesis of small arms can be traced to the late 14th century, initially manifesting as diminutive cannonry designed for handheld usage, ignited by the application of a lit match to the touch hole. This category conventionally encompasses revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, carbines, assault rifles, rifle squad automatic weapons, light machine guns, general-purpose machine guns, medium machine guns, and hand grenades. However, contextual variations may encompass heavy machine guns, along with smaller mortars, recoilless rifles, and specific rocket launchers. It should be underscored that larger ordnance, such as mortars, howitzers, cannons, vehicles, and more substantial military equipment, fall beyond the purview of small arms.

The esteemed Small Arms Survey (2004), as cited by Amoa (Pambazuka, September 21, 2006), has asserted that small arms in Africa have played an indispensable role in virtually every political conflict, spanning the geographic expanse from South to East and West Africa. The gravity of the small arms issue cannot be overstated, as these armaments have been instrumental in precipitating the political fragmentation and disarray of numerous African nations. The repercussions of SALW proliferation reverberate across the African continent, where many nations grapple with the dearth of able-bodied individuals to cultivate arable lands, thereby relegating entire generations to the tragic theater of senseless warfare. Children are forcibly thrust into premature adulthood, robbed of their formative years. Nevertheless, the indomitable spirit of the African populace is exemplified by the courageous activism of numerous leaders who perilously strive for peaceful transformation.

In the contemporary epoch, there has been a profound paradigm shift in the character and conduct of armed conflicts. While conventional wars of the 18th to the 20th centuries were predominantly waged along the lines of national interests, driven by clearly defined strategic objectives among the regular armed forces of internationally recognized sovereign states—thus characterized as interstate conflicts—the prevailing milieu witnesses a proliferation of conflicts ensconced within the territorial confines of nation-states. These conflicts encompass a diverse array of actors, encompassing not only government entities but also armed political militias, insurgent factions, religious and ethnic groups, expatriate and diaspora collectives, child soldiers, criminal syndicates, and mercenaries (Boutwell and Klare, 1999:1).

Factors affecting the proliferation and use of SALW in Africa and Nigeria

Owing to their relatively rudimentary design and operational simplicity, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) are characterized by a notable ease of utilization, even among individuals devoid of significant military training or experience. This salient characteristic elucidates their pervasive deployment by untrained combatants, including child soldiers, a phenomenon conspicuously evident in various armed conflicts, such as those witnessed in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Furthermore, SALW exhibit a propensity for minimal maintenance requirements and logistical support, enabling their sustained functionality over protracted temporal spans.

The ubiquity of SALW stems from their production, which does not necessitate sophisticated or advanced technological capabilities. These armaments are manufactured for deployment across military, law enforcement, and civilian spheres, thereby fostering a multitude of global producers and suppliers. This accessibility engenders a cost-effective procurement process, particularly as a substantial proportion of SALW undergoes recycling across successive conflicts. As encapsulated within their classifications, SALW possess the inherent mobility for single-person or light vehicle transportation, rendering them amenable to surreptitious smuggling endeavors. Notably, the Great Lakes region has witnessed instances wherein SALW shipments have been concealed beneath the veneer of non-lethal cargo or humanitarian supplies. These subterfuges often elude detection until the trafficker’s efforts to corrupt police and customs officials falter or when accidents, such as plane crashes, expose the concealed nature of the cargo (Boutwell and Klare, 1999:34). Conceivably, small arms have been introduced into Nigeria covertly, camouflaged within clothing, vehicles, or household utensils (Ayissi and Sall, 2005:56).

Although many SALW are characterized by their elemental design, their lethality has witnessed an escalation, endowing a solitary combatant with the capacity to pose a formidable threat to an entire society. Present-day assault rifles and automatic weaponry can discharge a formidable number of rounds per minute, with an AK-47 assault rifle, for instance, capable of expelling up to 600 rounds per minute when operated in automatic mode. Africa, being the world’s second-largest continent in terms of both landmass and population, grapples with the persistent challenge of securing its expansive borders. Nigeria, a representative example among its moderately sized nations, grapples with this dilemma. According to Ibrahim (2003), since the inception of democracy in Nigeria in May 1999, the country has been marred by over 30 communal clashes, predominantly rooted in religious and ethnic conflict dynamics. These clashes have resulted in substantial casualties and extensive property damage, engendering mass displacement and ensuing hardships, particularly among women and children.

In a fundamental sense, SALW encompass a diverse array of armaments, ranging from revolvers and self-loading pistols to rifles, carbines, submachine guns, assault rifles, light machine guns, Dane guns, local pistols, and hand grenades. Given the persistent and substantial influx of SALW into Nigeria, the nation is gradually transitioning from a position characterized by relative stability to one fraught with ambiguity and apprehension. This transformation constitutes a pivotal juncture demanding the attention of Nigerian patriots. Indeed, it may not be an overstatement to assert that, after the passage of a decade, Nigeria has become a de facto hub for Small and Light Weapons on the global stage, with the Niger Delta region serving as its epicenter. In the context of international relations and security studies, it is noteworthy that Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) influx into the Niger Delta region, notably facilitated by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), predominantly occurs through Nigeria’s Atlantic maritime borders. Exploiting the lax enforcement of maritime border controls, traffickers proficiently employ speedboats to procure firearms from vessels in the high seas. On the continental front, illicit weapons trafficking extends through neighboring countries, namely Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, accentuating the transnational dimension of this issue (IRIN, 2006:17-18).

An additional dimension in the proliferation of SALW in the Niger Delta emanates from the tacit acceptance of oil companies engaging in arms importation into Nigeria or, at the very least, the tolerance extended to arms acquired by these corporations. While the Nigerian government contested allegations in newspaper reports regarding Shell’s importation of arms for police utilization in 1996, Shell itself acknowledged the acquisition, asserting the arms were exclusively procured for police forces due to budgetary constraints (Greenpeace, 2006). Moreover, the complicity of corrupt army and police personnel plays a pivotal role in diverting legally acquired weapons towards illegal channels. Instances have arisen where firearms sourced from the national armory were illicitly sold to criminal gangs and militant factions operating in the Niger Delta. An illustrative case emerged in January 2008, when the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard reported the apprehension of a police superintendent, an inspector, and three other senior officers in Jos for supplying AK-47 rifles to an armed robbery syndicate. Within the realm of international relations and security studies, it is evident that SALW continue to exert a pronounced impact on armed conflict dynamics, criminality, and thereby insecurity within Nigeria. As demonstrated, firearms and other SALW increasingly serve as catalysts for violence and insecurity, encompassing a spectrum of criminal activities ranging from minor offenses to serious transgressions such as armed robbery, hostage-taking, and, most notably, politically motivated assassinations, particularly during electoral periods. Notably, in December 2001, Federal Justice Minister and Attorney General Bola Ige fell victim to a fatal shooting in his Ibadan residence, constituting the highest-ranking political assassination during President Obasanjo’s tenure.

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria, characterized by extensive oil and gas operations, has become saturated with the proliferation of perilous SALW. The escalating activities of insurgent and militant factions pose a substantial threat not only to the well-being of the region’s inhabitants but also to the overall security of the Nigerian state and the thriving petroleum industry within the area. The region grapples with chronic neglect and disillusionment stemming from both the Federal Government and multinational corporations. For instance, Oloibiri in Bayelsa State, the site of Nigeria’s inaugural oil discovery, now languishes in abandonment, its oil wells depleted and its natural environment grievously compromised. The convergence of factors such as the agitation for resource control by Niger Delta residents, the instrumentalization of youth groups by local political actors, pervasive poverty, underdevelopment, and widespread unemployment has fostered the emergence of armed criminality, SALW proliferation, and the rise of militant entities such as the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), the Bush Boys, and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), alongside the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV). Thus, within the framework of international relations and security studies, it is evident that the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, characterized by substantial oil and gas activities, is confronted with a profound inundation of hazardous Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) (Wellington, 2007).

Within this intricate landscape, the illegal trafficking of weaponry into the Niger Delta is predominantly conducted through maritime routes. Additionally, inadequately compensated Nigerian soldiers, who have participated in peacekeeping missions in other African nations like Liberia and Sierra Leone, frequently return to their homeland and engage in the unauthorized sale of firearms to non-state combatants or arms dealers (Florquin and Berman, 2005). Furthermore, security operatives inadvertently contribute to the proliferation of SALW within the region. The confluence of factors such as poverty, underdevelopment, and unemployment underscore the increasing efficacy of militancy in the Niger Delta. Empirical data reveals that these socioeconomic indices languish significantly below the national average, epitomizing a dire scenario characterized by destitution and privation (UNDP, 2006).

CONCLUSION

The proliferation of small arms constitutes a formidable challenge afflicting the African continent, with salience for Nigeria and the Niger Delta region. This proliferation has engendered the emergence of armed factions within the Niger Delta, concomitant with the instrumentalization of youth organizations by local political figures. Concurrently, recurrent security breaches targeting governmental entities and multinational corporations further contribute to the complex security landscape. The amplification of small arms proliferation within the Niger Delta region can be ascribed to multifaceted factors. It is exacerbated by the porous nature of Nigeria’s national boundaries, encompassing both terrestrial and maritime domains, as well as the intricate network of waterways and creeks that facilitate clandestine transport. Additionally, illegal arms channels thrive, with illicit arms dealers operating covertly, and the involvement of military personnel returning from international peacekeeping missions who inadvertently reintroduce firearms. Moreover, politicians have been known to procure arms for distribution among youth constituencies, employing these arsenals as tools of intimidation against rival political factions. The pernicious influence of corrupt police and security personnel further compounds the issue, as exemplified by instances wherein illegal arms dealers and militant operatives, apprehended and arrested, secured their release through the dispensation of bribes.

Addressing the internal proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) necessitates a multifaceted strategy. Firstly, states and governmental bodies must prioritize the fortification of arms stockpiles to render them impervious to theft from military or police repositories. Secondly, concerted efforts should be directed towards a gradual diminution in the utilization of firearms by law enforcement agencies, with the potential for a complete cessation thereof. Additionally, harnessing the communicative power of social media platforms offers a promising avenue for disseminating anti-proliferation narratives and discouraging the deployment of these armaments. Simultaneously, governmental interventions should encompass the provisioning of gainful employment opportunities and comprehensive skill acquisition initiatives, tailored to dissuade youth engagement in criminal activities. A collaborative nexus between public and private sector stakeholders, spanning both security and non-security domains, is imperative to address extant security lacunae and institute a comprehensive security framework.

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