Oil Theft and Corruption: Pathways to under Development in the Niger Delta

Abstract

The mean aim of this paper is to examine the nexus between oil theft and corruption as it affects development in the region. Niger Delta is the store house of petroleum resources, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue and more than 90 per cent of the total exports. Oil theft is the criminal act of siphoning crude oil from government oil facilities. The study findings shows that there is quest for personal wealth accumulation, criminal tendencies by the local and international oil traders, security lapses, stakeholders  negligence for the region development among others were responsible for oil theft and corruption. The findings shows that there is increase in state insecurity, Economic loses, Environmental degradation, fire disasters explosions, lost of life and material resources. The paper concludes that, until oil theft and corruption are curbed, the Niger Delta region will still be underdeveloped and the region will be elusive of sustainable peace and development.

Keywords: Oil Theft, Corruption, Niger Delta and Development.