Nigeria's Oil War

Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016; 202-808-4980Produced by Mark Corcoran for The Australian Broadcasting CorporationDirector n/a2005, DVD, color, 23 min. This film, an entry in the “Foreign Correspondent” series for Australian Broadcasting, presents a snapshot of a significant point in this ongoing crisis in the Niger River Delta over the collusion of the Nigerian government with foreign oil companies installed there. The Niger River delta holds some 3% of the world’s oil reserves, and, as such, is a major home to many large oil companies, such as Shell, AGIP, and Exxon-Mobil. This important piece of journalism well lays out the insidious influence of western corporations on increasingly impoverished African land, and with additional background, presents a vivid lesson in modern colonialism. When reporter Eric Campbell visited Nigeria in the spring of 2005, he first found the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force behaving like a raucous motorcycle gang at the funeral of a local man killed in the conflict between them and government forces. Campbell describes the Force’s rabble rousing and criminal activities such as stealing, extorting protection money, and “bunkering.” This last activity is a way of stealing oil through an innovative practice involving the rerouting of oil piping into private barges. In interviews and speeches of the Force’s leader, Mujahid Dokubu Asari, their gangster activities become transformed into a “political force” as it becomes clear that the people are attracted to Asari’s “self-styled liberation army,” and rhetoric concerning the “complete marginalization” of the Nigerian people. He himself well articulates the obvious collusion of the government not only with the oil companies, but with the thieves who steal from them. The pillaging and polluting of the earth resulting from these conflicts is also documented. This move to violence and war with the government over economic inequalities is traced back to 1995, when a group of non-violent anti-Shell activists, led by an Ogoni author named Ken Saro Wiwa, were executed after a trial based on trumped up charges. Ten years later, the people have lost all faith in the ability of their government to get them any benefit from the “oil boom,” and peaceful leaders recognize legitimate grievance. One speaker not inaccurately declaims “oil doom!” Shortly after this documentary was made, Mujahid Dokubu Asari was jailed and remains under arrest in Nigeria. His followers demand his release, while chaos and bloodshed continue unabated under a repressive military with wages subsidized by the oil companies. This is a well-edited, well paced exposé of all the critical factors in this crisis, notable for the appearance of the charismatic Asari. Highly recommended for anyone interested in current world affairs. See also the February 2007 Vanity Fair article by Sebastian Junger as well as a version of the film on YouTube.