Effects of Oil Production on Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the most abundant countries regarding natural resources, Oil being its highest in production. "Oil has made a bigger impact in the world in the twenty-first century than any other natural resource" (5). Oil is commonly known that it is an expensive and necessary commodity, giving it the name 'Black Gold'. In fact it is so valuable that in Nigeria its oil is practically the price of blood. This franchise greatly impacts their environment, social interactions of the people and the Nigerian economy.

The Nigerian environment is taking a toll for the worse because of the industry's oil production. To start, gases produced from the burning of oil "in the Niger Delta makes up about 20% of greenhouse gases" worldwide (Onuoha 203). This not only affects nature but the humans and their surroundings as well. Such as Fishing and farming becomes quite difficult because of the toxic rains poisoning the soil and water making them contaminated and unusable. In addition ,"pollution affects the overall health of Nigerian people" (Onuoha 204). It becomes evident that cancer is caused by the pollution in the air and acid rain because of the harmful qualities the oil has produced. Birth defects and disease can also be caused by oil production for the same reason. In conclusion, the negative effects on natural surroundings and human's health coming from the oil industry greatly outweigh the good.

Every day the tensions between the people of Nigeria grows stronger as a result of the industry's way of functioning. The distribution "of the proceeds from oil was considered by most Nigerians" as unjust and unfair (Onuoha 207). This is a crucial part of the well being of everyone and shows how dependent Nigeria and its people are on the funds from the oil. The outcome has been "ethnic conflict increases in criminal activities and continuous clashes between the central government and various ethnic communities throughout the country" (Onuoha 207). In addition these outbreaks "between ethnic groups and security forces have resulted in several deaths as well as disruptions in oil productions" with protests and hostages (Onuoha 207). This raging battle between the community and the government poses a serious threat to the manufacturing of oil. Not only is it a problem to the manufacturer but to the people themselves, as they have caused injuries and even death onto others. This problem needs to be resolved quickly for the Nigerian people cannot risk the violence to grow any higher than it already is as well as the industry itself.

Nigeria's economy has been dominated by its oil since 1973 and is the 6th largest exporter in the world today just proving how large of an impact it has (Noruwa, Chidi Odoguwu 16). "Nigeria is endowed with the 10th largest oil reserves in the world" making it the country's largest source of income (Onuoha