The Resource Curse Syndrome and Legitimate Expectations of the Niger Delta People of Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is one of the world's petroleum regions, endowed with an abundance of natural resources necessary for the nation's development.  There should be an effective utilization of the resources for the greater good of the country. Each Government endowed with petroleum resources should take action to ensure that those resources are transformed for the benefit of its citizens. The article, reviewing the resource curse theory and scholarship, argues that Nigeria's Niger Delta has significant petroleum resources, but these resources have not been harnessed efficiently for the effective growth of the nation. This has had a considerable impact on the regional distribution of economic advantages, creating a case of the paradox of plenty. It demonstrated the resource curse syndrome in Nigeria and the effort to address the situation. The article presents a proposal on how Nigeria should use and manage its petroleum resources through proactive measures aimed at addressing the resource curse.

Keywords: Resource curse; Petroleum resources; Dutch diseases; Niger Delta

DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/79-04

Publication date:October 31^st 2021