Prof. Owolabi says radicalism and animosity are results of the oil disaster in the Niger Delta

An academic from Nigeria’s University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulrazaq Owolabi Abdulkadir, has pinpointed the root of the region’s animosity.

According to him, the scenario has exacerbated tensions between locals and the multinational oil firms that operate in the area, and it has had a detrimental impact on the federal government’s blue economy program. He went on to claim that the oil spill has hurt the marine ecology.

During Thursday’s 280th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin, titled “Radicalism, Rascality and Resentment In The Ebb Of Marine And Blue Economy,” Professor Abdulrazaq made these submissions.

The professor of international maritime law from the department of private and property law in Nigeria further said that the already tense situation is getting worse due to the widespread mistrust between the general public and the government, as well as between the general public and multinational corporations. This is evident in the radicalism, savagery, and animosity that permeate the Nigerian maritime domain.

“If we want to see a lasting reduction in illegal maritime activities, we must inevitably tackle the root causes of radicalism, rascality, and resentment.”

“Good governance and political regime are the main determinants of the non pervasiveness of piracy in the region,” Professor Abdulrazaq said, urging that “military capacity should not often be invoked” in order to curb the radicalism, rascality, and resentment that hinder responsible exploration of the blue economy.

Military personnel in Nigeria, including marine police and navy officers, need to be reoriented so they can fulfill their heavy duty of honoring their oath and maintaining the integrity of their position, he added.

“Some avoidable importation of arms, ammunition, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is generally due to corrupt practices by these personnel.”

In order to ensure that oil drilling rigs are subject to the 2% surcharge, Professor Abdulrazaq has argued that the Carbonate Act of 2003 should be amended to include them specifically in Sections 2 and 22(5)(m).

An other reason for this is because “shippers or investors have been taking advantage of this lacuna in the Act,” he explained.