The Dimensions of Oil Conflict and Impact on Nigeria’s Federal Relations: A Review

Abstract

Conflict is a natural human phenomenon. Its impact is however variegated and dependent on how it is handled. Nigeria is encumbered by conflicts that are occurring along political, social and economic fronts. Oil (petroleum) is an economic resource relevant to Nigeria’s development but the disruptive disagreement, discontent and contention oil has continued to generate due to some perceived unfairness has made oil conflict to transcend economic, politics and social lines such that the entire national polity is tensed with strained relationships between groups on the one hand and on the other hand between groups and the state. This disagreement has significantly impaired Nigeria’s developmental process. It is against this backdrop that this paper utilizing the documentary method and analytic approach examines the dimensions of oil conflict, the modes of its resolution and its impact on Nigeria.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n10p222