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Sadly there has been inter-ethnic conflict for many years, often fierce and many thousands killed in the hostilities. Conflict has arisen in the islands and the towns, based on disputes over land and competition over oil money.Around 75% of Nigerias wealth comes from the the Delta oil reserves . From the troubles in Warri to the west of the Delta, Port Harcourt to the east is now politically more unstable.
Politically active groups voice frustration at the lack of government will to improve the situation and on the back of these , often educated idealogues, numerous groups of opportunist criminal gangs exploit the instability for material gain serving only to deepen the problems, and arguably lessen the central will to attempt to resolve the situation.
Oil pollution is visible across many regions of the creeks. Some slicks are from tankers cleaning their tanks in the tidal estuaries with scant regard for the environment, though the vast majority of the oil pollution is as the result of illegal theft ('oil bunkering') from the sabotage of pipelines left to leach thousand of gallons into the surrounding creeks, with callous disregard for the indigenous people, killing fishstocks and shellfish beds.(see below)
Industrial flaring across the Delta adds another environmental factor, with millions of tons of CO2 produced annually that contributes to the production of acid rain, and a major source of greenhouse gases. The 70million cubic metres of gas burnt into the atmosphere daily, is argued to be the largest single source of greenhouse gases in the world.
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Large oil slick beside a riverine village
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A long oil spillage from a sabotaged pipeline.
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The third largest Delta system in the world and the source of rich oil reserves there is a profound discrepancy between the wealth of natural resources and the subsequent wealth of the indigenous peoples. Between acknowledged corruption both at local and national level, logistical difficulties developing this region , partisan politics and the individual struggle for mere survival the delta communities rank amongst some of the poorest, least educated and diseased peoples in the world.
No trained professional chooses a posting voluntarily in this region and even military postings are seen as a burden to be endured. With development stifled and the people ignored, those fortunate enough will move to the cities for education and better employment prospects. Expected life expectancy and average income fall way below the national average.
From a medical perspective mass immunisation campaigns have had patchy coverage in the Delta with surveys in the communities in which we work showing almost 100% failure in vaccinating according to WHO recommendations for Nigeria. Most communities will have a small government clinic, poorly equipped and resourced, the vast majority of people using native practitioners. death rates in the underfives can reach a staggering 70% in some communities.
The people of the delta live in relative isolation, both culturally and physically. Motor taxis (open fibreglass hull with 75bhp engine)ply the larger waterways between communities, but are expensive and very infrequent. In the main the dugout canoe serves for transport, both for trade, fishing and carrying raw materials
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Beliefs are rooted in deities of the water and animals, and juju, a form of totemic fetish pratice, is widespread. Many islands are Christian though idol woship and traditional fetish beliefs are predominant in all communities. Islam is a little represented, a faith that is predominant in the north of the country.
There is little infrastructure due to the difficulty of logistics, and any capital investment in the more accessible communities is rarely followed up by service and maintenance. Electricity and costly boreholes rapidly fall into disrepair. In such a vast region the communities of the small creeks and swamps have remained unchanged for centuries, and with the extraction of oil, and subsequent revenues, this lack of development has stirred up deep resentment.
The majority of the work is done by the women, fishing and small-holding, the principal diet being fish,shell-fish, cassava, yam, maize and beans.
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harvested cassava
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washed and roasted
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sold at market (as 'garri')
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Though there are governmental districts there regional 'Kings' are still very much in existence, a form of clanship setting more historical boundaries. Throughout the area there are many distinct dialects and though superficially similar the entire region is fragmented through tongue, tribe, and religious divide.
Despite the troubles and the outside perception of the Delta region, it is nevertheless an area of staggering beauty, and should be an area preserved for its ecology and topography. Equally, the people, rightfully frustrated by the lack of development , in the area which generates the nations wealth, are in the vast majority, welcoming, hospitable and generous.
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