Riz Khan - Nigeria's Oil - 22 July 08 Part 1

[kuroyoroki]

My people oil is bigger than one country government. The multi-national companies like SHELL OIL need to end and a company they are using blood money to fund western countries. The blood money profit they make in billions or pounds, euros, and dollas stay in the western world. WE hate Shell as a company, shell is own by the European governments. Human right, land mass dead.

[MrKappadona]

PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA FOR CHANGE.

[MrGomez450]

to Buzzmasterflash its either you are the most ignorant or stupid African alive or a moron.well i guess you hate yourself aswell because you lack forethought and knowledge to enable you understand why such things are happening.the African intellectuals are not involved in the governance of Africa but it is run by fools like you who lack foresight.think before you speak donkey

[pwiattitto]

a serious but short video, so informative and enlightening about the history of nigeria and its oil wealth.

so, why do so many comments here amount to irrelevant nonsense? separate homelands? slavery trade? ...are you people really that bored?

ps: great points @tech4156

[MegaSage007]

A parasite gets on your flesh. Its sucks the life out of you. In Nigeria find out who gets the envelopes full of cash under the table to move the black blood out of the country. Get the government to nationalize the oil production and rebudget it with checks going to every Nigerian.

[supervirtuouswoman]

The reason why Nigeria is very poor is because they sold the slaves to the white man. White America is fucking up, Black Africa is fucking up all because they both negotiated to sell us black Americans to the white man.

[humanxpress]

The people of Niger Delta SHOULD seek for a seperate homeland. They are so impoverished and poor while the Nigerian oil wealth is used to build Lagos and Abuja at the detriment of the people whose land the oil is extracted. Oil wells will someday dry up.....the west is aggressively looking for alternative energy and they are not too far from finding it. Declare a sovereign nation and put an end to this sham union called Nigeria that was unilaterally put together by the imperialistic Britain.

[OneWorldOneDestiny]

Soyinka - a light in the dark.

[tech4156]

nigeria should concentrate on the following:

1) sewage

2) roads and mapping

3) lease a telecom satellite

4) Solar energy and wind turbines

5) Water treatment plants

6) Policing and correct laws (even for police)

7) Factories for manufacturing (many of them)

8) blueprints for everything

9) Send hundreds of nigerians abroad to learn how to implement 21st century infrastructure and laws on 3- 5yr courses

[pwiattitto]

@tech4156 all that you've pointed out should go without saying, unfortunately it doesn't, yet.

although, on your last point, there are already nigerians abroad, and it should just be a case of re-engaging them in nigerian (construction) affairs. whereas, sending hundreds more from nigeria to abroad will only constitute a 'brain drain' which may only serve to compound the country's problems.

[strafebiggy]

Niger Delta should fight for a seperate state rather than kidnapping, this way, they will get international assistance and take over their resources. 50 years from now the situation will never improve. The Nigerian Govt. controlled by the North will never relinquish power.....not with the massive support they get from the British Govt. Oil wells are not forever. Degradation will be the bane of Niger Delta when the wells run dry....architectural masterpiece that is Abuja will be left standing!

[carolzy1]

i get really depressed when i think of how it was we came to this. some of us just want to live normal lives without thinking of NEPA wahala, bad roads, poor waste disposal facilities, embarrasing education system, fake drugs, and corrupt leaders.

sometimes it just makes me cry, so much resources so much waste.........

[AlxDP7]

It's sad but works for me. I intend on outsourcing. Where else can you get labor that cheap and officials that corrupt with such a favorable position in relation to the United States, Europe, and the developing Americas? China has nothing on an ideal Nigeria. Money is sweat like power, freedom, responsibility, work, insanity, corruption, destruction, and death....

[Buzzmasterflash]

The only solution to Nigeria problem is for the country to be divided. Give me back my Bendel State and the rest will be history. As an African, I hate fellow Black people because they are purposely very stupid & lack the capacity to see beyond now.

[Oyekorode]

Good talk, i'm with you my BROTHER

[supervirtuouswoman]

@Buzzmasterflash I understand you are angry with your fellow black people; however, that is exactly what the white european wants us to do. I suggest we come up with a solution better than hating one another.

[newmanliveth]

@Buzzmasterflash

if division is the answer then america wouldnt have been a great nation today,and haiti would have been the best country in history.the hatred you have for fellow blacks is the problem we have in nigeria today.tribalism .

[armana1]

you can always count on prof wole soyinka to speak nothing but the truth to power.KONGI God bless your morally upright and detribalised soul!!!!

[talk2metboy]

Boko Harram is not making things better, the mentality of nigerians are so backward. We need a change in that country and enough of the tribal. religion battles and face what is at hand. We all know there is corruption but do we have a plan to tackle it and are me making efforts to follow such plans if they were implemented

[Nnfefe]

so 'things fall apart' is becoming the destiny of nigeria

[iphieee]

Divide d country and give biafra their state, let see how d hausa will cope

[MrSocool07]

your not thinking cause the niger delta wont go with biafra they will ask for their own republic

[iphieee]

i am all 4 niger delta having their own republic but dat will never happen. d only realistic option would be a biafra state.

[MrSocool07]

in rivers state the ijaw and minorities are already complaining about the igbo elite marginalizing them. Biafra didn't have full support of the niger delta which is why Biafra failed the first time.

[MrSocool07]

Everyone keeps sayin Hausas but they up north are not happy either because the elite hausas-fulani are opressing the poor and using religion against its own people. Everyon should stop being selfish and go for one country for the betterment of everyone.

[iphieee]

i am from delta, why should i av to share my resources with the people up north. its not my fault the av little or no natural resources.

[tweenthyfourseventow]

please honourable nigeria need your mediation biafran/nigerdelta need your international recongnition to attract international interference in the issue of self determination free biafra/nigerdelta free southern nigeria generally

[OmoOvie]

Liquid gold? Hmm! Might as well be called 'devil's blood' for all the heartache it has caused my country, all the greed and corruption it has inspired, all the hatred and deepening of tribal divides it has engendered. Liquid gold indeed. God save us; na your hand na im e dey oh Baba. E don pass our power.

[OftheSoil]

Its Nigerians that turned it into 'devil's blood'.

[stylenstine]

u don talk am finish. but how can we fight off those heartless ANIMALS in human skin in power? it gives me sleepless night daily. AFRICA is in a very deep trouble, if no action is taken now, i feel sry 4 the next generations 2 come. anyone with a functioning brain will definitely overstand. I HATE THIS WORLD. all i can do is just 2 pray daily 4 heart attack, killing off those.......(no words 2 describe them) in UN. bla bla bla everyday. supporting genocide world wide. FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE

[mickyoo1]

i am very sure that many nigerians from this discussion will also ask dat question how does nigeria actually operate politically. sometimes it looks as though each state has its own president. there is no true guildlines yes we invest in our education but still fundementally flawed as most of these degrees only work in nigeria maybe only in africa never globally

[mickyoo1]

my reason as everyone who watches this clip will see. he trully understands the scale of the problems we face. and until someone who trully understands the problem and has a clear strategy of getting us out of this mess nigeria my friends is never getting out of this mess for another century if that

[mickyoo1]

my reason for this if others that watch this clip agree he has a true understanding of the scale of the problems we face in nigeria,and till nigeria has in charge someone who understands the issues we face in nigeria and has a clear stragety of getting us out of it we are never getting out of this mess. building glass houses is just not enough

[mickyoo1]

prof wole soyinka in my veiw should please stop being on the side lines and placing himself in the back bench of nigerian politics. the nigerian people needs his sincerity, honesty to lead the country as a presidentail candidate which im confident he will win if he decides to take on the work. the new generation of nigerian politicians im sceptical about. but im sure with a mandate of 8 years he could right the wrongs made by his generation

[kfanean28]

why can't we have refinery in our damn country?

[alaji2]

my point is that nothing wrong with what "petervoullings" said about Biafra and you started saying "tribalism" what do u want IGBO people say when that currupted goverment do not want them in top positions. Nigeria government is not inclusive if u do not know that. Look at the place where oil is coming from in that shameful country and all the money they are making from it, so tell us where are the money and what type of development your government have put in that region or Niger Delta?

[Mrmoc7]

Government corruption and incompetency is a multinational problem in Africa. You think you're going to solve this by seceding your little corner of Nigeria from the nation state?

Or are you only interested in having an Igbo in "top" position even if he's no better than the rest of them?

[alaji2]

My point is that, if we eventually seced,Igbo being headed by Igbo leader,Yoruba being governed by his people etc.

It is my considered opinion that, there will be a close monitoring of the leaders in each region.Moreso,the complexity of leadership will be reduced immencely.

Because I believe Igbo leaders who lead wrongly can easily be challenged by his people.Same for the rest ethnic group.

[alaji2]

this not about put Igbo on top for just to be on top but those that are qualify should be allow to rule the country as well. do you all the HAUSA there now are qualified? Hausa dictates everything in nigeria and only put Hausa on top of every other groups and that should should not be so. So why not let poeple that are qualified govern the country instead to base qualifications on what ethnic group or groups you belong to.

[petervoullings]

long live federal republic of Biafra, long live Emeka Ojukwu and long live the entire people of Orlu.

[Mrmoc7]

Tribalism....keep it up.

[alaji2]

Why don`t you tell us the meaning of tribalism?

[Mrmoc7]

Tribalism: When a nation state consists of more than one ethnic group, tribalism is the primitive, imaginary, and moronic sense of ethnic superiority that inspires those of simple minds and immature self-restraint to advocate always in favor of their ethnic group alone, and without regard for others, up to the point where it creates a schism in the successful administration of the state.

I'm sure you didn't just ask me for a definition, you must have been trying to make a point; what is it?

[Okoroman]

"Tribe" and its application in Africa is unnacceptable. It is a colinial term. calculated to undermine the "Black" people in Africa. While "Nation" is reserved from European [White]people, "Tribe" is used to undermin African [Black] people. Whilst in Africa a "tribe" has its population in 10's of millions (or even in a few millions), "nations" in Europe don't essentailly have up to a population of 1 million.

[Okoroman]

The term "tribe" has no consistent meaning. It carries misleading historical and cultural assumptions. It blocks accurate views of African realities. At best, any interpretation of African events that relies on the idea of tribe contributes no understanding of specific issues in specific countries.

[Okoroman]

At worst, it perpetuates the idea that African identities and conflicts are in some way more "primitive" than those in other parts of the world. Such misunderstanding may lead to disastrously inappropriate policies.

[Okoroman]

The term "tribe" and its current application in Africa, is not acceptable. It is a colinialist term calculated to deliberately undermine the "black"man. Whilst "tribe" is used to descibe peoples with different cultures in Africa, "nation" is used to descibe European peoples. A careful observation suggests that an African "tribe" may have a population in their tens of milons, whilst some European "nations" do not have a population of up to a millions.

[Mrmoc7]

I don't see how any of this detracts from the fact that seceding from Nigeria won't solve your problems...

There's nothing stopping your own elected niger/delta officials from being just as corrupt, if not more corrupt than the Nigerian politicians. The western companies pretty much own the oil refineries in Nigeria, our government gets less than 50% of the profits. And of the gains to reap from oil, they use few of it to better their society.

[Okoroman]

Your application of the term "tribe" to decribe african nations therefore shows that lack you credibility.

As for elections, every fool knows that in Nigeria this is a fraudulent exercise, except for a lying, dishonest, Nigerian, including those inpsychological denial. Those people you refer to as "governors" etc. are criminals selected by Nigeria. It is very easy to find criminals in a society. You know little or nothing about our people's struggle. We are not interested in Nigeria.

[Okoroman]

Resource control: Niger-Delta governors are traitors - Evah

Vanguard Tuesday, July 19, 2005

"The governors of the Niger-Delta have openly shown that they are traitors. President Obasanjo called the South-South governors to Calabar and promised to give them oil blocks if they will frustrate their delegates" Joseph Evah

[Okoroman]

Why should any Biafran today aid Nigeria in its continuing to destroy our land and our people? Why should any Biafran continue to insist on one-Nigeria for our people? Why should any Biafran fail to ask for Self determination for Biafra today to relieve us of destructive enslavement by Nigeria? We are talking of Self-Determination.

[Okoroman]

It should be obvious that this is the solution to our awful predicament in Nigeria. In fact, the root-solution is Biafra actualization. A Sovereign Independent State for our people gives us back the control of our land and gives our people back their life, that we may repair our tattered culture and battered society, and in so doing, start on the journey back to our wonted Tradition.

[Okoroman]

A Sovereign Independent Biafra puts us directly in charge of our own destiny, thus to restore Security in our Land and to our land, and allow us to come home, live at home or leave home, in confidence and prosperity, on our own terms, and for reasons other than lack of security.

[Okoroman]

It is this process-cum- principle of Self Determination that we want to win over all Biafrans to, as our ways to Biafra actualization, in order to stop our maddening misfortunes, reverse our course,and return to Life and living. Biafra actualization is the answer; Self Determination is the way.

[sethken]

@Okoroman: will you advocate for a Biafran State without the Niger delta?

[MoolahMogul1]

This is a very controversial debate. It has a simple answer. CHANGE! however the blame lies on the government AND people of Nigeria. What the people need is a MORAL REBIRTH so that they can wake up to the menace of the corrupt and decadent government. Im my opinion. The situation will not change, the gross injustice and inequality will continue to exist until a revolution or uprising that topples and replaces that government. The people are blinded by ignorance and lack of a nationalistic spirit

[blusk119]

Fuck the devil stand up mighty black man

this will happen worldwide soon

[tech4156]

nigeria need 6 major changes and they are

1sewage

2electricity

3communications

4roads

5solar panels

6public transportation

[Mrmoc7]

Africa NEEDS engineers, not doctors.

Engineers, ENGINEERS, ENGINEERS, ENGINEERS, ENGINEERS!

African parents: Stop telling your smart kids to become doctors, tell them to be ENGINEERS instead!!!

Doctors only treat the symptoms of underdevelopment (ex: cholera). Engineers FIX THE DAMN disease! (good water sanitation).

[OmoOvie]

I support what you say but I'd reorder and add something else:

1. A moral/mental/spiritual revolution

2. sewage

3. electricity

4. solar panels

5. roads

6. public transportation

7. communications

[RobertsDigital]

@tech4156 Nigeria is likely to be one of the most richest countries in the future but first of all what they need to concentrate on.

1. Sewage Treatment Plants

2 Garbage treatment plants

3. Water Purification Plants

4. Themal Energy Plants for constant electricity

5. Improved Police force to fight corruption & Crime (better bigger prisons)

6. Better medical centers with transplantation units and research centers

[RobertsDigital]

@RobertsDigital Nigeria Should be more dependent on China at least for the time being than the US or Brits who will never reveal secrets.

[RobertsDigital]

Also Nigerians should learn to export their Agricultural produce than depend on oil alone. Many countries today without oil do profit in billions of bucks from Agricultural produce alone. If Nigerians can combine their Agricultural produce with both the Black Gold and Yellowcake the country produces then the country will be unbeatable. So the problem with Nigeria itself is that a lot of food remains within the country rather than being sold.

[1truthfulman]

@tech4156 ... #5 can pair off with #2 - so there are 5 Major changes but one must include healthcare and a thorough modernisation of Police enforcement. So 7 changes altogether. But the big question is this: do they think like us? Do they see the benefits of all this?

[01375855885]

@tech4156 Missed out Education...

[dixdix01690]

carma is a bitch! all involved in this exploitation must reap the fruit of their labor if not here on earth, then in HELL! when God judges them, i want the front seat..money truely is the root of all evil!

[solonly02]

Nigeria suppose to be richer than many part of European country...But selfishness is one of the most horrible habit of there leadership...

it's absolutly an embarrassment for a country that is blessed with mineral resources and wonderful habitat to live into poverty...

[PlanetThoughts]

Of course this is a terrible scandal. Unfortunately, as an American I also know that our government allows the "legal" exploitation and destruction of the land. The United States behaves much like the British used to, that is, as long as the laws imposed by them on a "weaker" culture allow pillaging of the land for their own profit, then brutal suppression of the local people, and destruction of their land and lives, is justified. Those responsible will suffer in the future.

[Okoroman]

"I am not a Nigerian and God never created me a Nigerian, so if Nigeria is tensed up that is the business of Nigeria. I am an Ijaw man. That is where God created me. Ijaw nation was forcefully taken over by the British which eventually lumped it into an entity called Nigeria."

(Asari Dokubo, Nigerian Tribune, August 17 2008.)

[kemetkush]

we are all african and we must unity.

[waragainstnaijagovt]

soyinka has said it all join the fight against nigeria govt start now start today

[yormeey]

Plz stop distirting Soyinka's intention. Secession will never succeed in Nigeria, ok!

[tweenthyfourseventow]

let the nigeria government ,led by the so call nothern nigeria islamic cucus live us alone and move on ,on their own way,morally so unjustified unification promulgated by the british,the hausas should know by now that the hit is on,it's going to back fire against them,non innovative minded clans .

[tweenthyfourseventow]

did yall see why we struggle and suffer ,all nigerian citizen live like destitude and vagabonds at every corner of the world.35 billion barrels what of crude black gold is deposited in the land left to us by our fore fathers before 9th B.C and we are still sphycologically and emotionaly depressed ,so there fore posibility of having 35 billion barrerls times by $120.00 per barrel int.price is equivalent to $4 trillion,still i have no respect in united state.

[tgirl71]

Oil is a curse to the world, and to the people of the Niger Delta, who get no benefit. This "liquid gold" is killing the cultures, the environment, and the lifeways of the Niger Delta. The world remains ignorant of this problem, all we can do is wring our hands and complain about the continuing rising cost of fuel. Oil companies continue to reap tremendous profits while we all stand by and we all suffer. We need to find alternatives to oil and stop this madness!!

[dowling1981]

Have you seen Blood Diamond?

[tgirl71]

Not yet - have the vid tho.

[dowling1981]

You still watch videos? lol Have you discovered fire yet?

[tgirl71]

Har har har dee har har. Goooood one. Don't you respect your elders?? Ok, it's a DVD - I'm old, but not that much, LOL!!

[dowling1981]

Got ten years on me! LOL

[fayahsoul]

We are not "nigerians". "nigeria" is a british construct. It's a private corporate artifitial entity that's headed by the queen BITCH! in small britain. Off course "nigeria" is corrupt, what do u expect? It was founded on corruption, it's sustained by corruption & will remain corrupt until we, the locals, dismantle it & contrive a true sovereign polity from our own consciousness. We must cease any further participation in that criminal corporation called "nigera". This is a new age, do or die.

[fayahsoul]

We are not "nigerians". "nigeria" is a british construct. It's a private corporate artifitial entity that's headed by the queen BITCH! in small britain. Off course "nigeria" is corrupt, what do u expect? It was founded on corruption, it's sustained by corruption & will remain corrupt until we, the locals, dismantle it & contrive a true sovereign polity from our own consciousness. We must cease any further participation in that criminal corporation called "nigera". This is a new age, do or die.

[hatrangstb]

The white haired guy is right. It went back to the government. Just look at what Sani Abacha, the now dead president has done. In 5 years in office, he stole over 2 billion of dollars, more than a million for everyday, including weekends. He accepted a billion in bribes and awarded another billion in contracts to foreign companies. Funny enough he died while together with three prostitutes, viagra fuelled. It's disgusting actually. Corruption is everywhere, not just in Nigeria. Humans are evil

[jammoexii]

Fuck the oil companies. Fuck Shell. The Nigerian government, like most African governments (and to some degree like most governments period), is incompetent, malicious, and corrupt. It's for exactly these reasons that they can form such friendly relationships with business like Shell. Wole Soyinka has a right to attack them specifically because that's where he's from and he's familiar with it, but we don't. It's our responsibility in the West to stop OUR role, which is arguably much worse.

[timmynaija]

shell`s licence as been revoked a week ago and they no longer have anything to do in nigeria any more...

they messed up the whole nigerdalta including the help of the past 4governments that we had...

[ramonefan22]

who da fuck is dat Niger

[timmynaija]

are you retarded?

calling shoyinka who da fuck is dat nigger?

you must be a shame to the human race,extinction is your title..

am from the nigerdelta and i know how my world is even if i dont live there..

when ever am home and i want to go to the country side of my native i cry for the people there..

and you have the gods to talk this s¤¤t!!!

extinction is your title.

[ramonefan22]

Sorry chocolate face I didnt know that will affend you.

[adejareojo]

fuck off fuck-face

[tukoroa]

Am from the niger delta an ijaw man the situation in niger delta is sad in many ways.Honesly militancy is the only way people will listern our cry.

[Renegen1]

They should nationalize their oil, why play to the bullshit of oil companies. If anything it would be a lot better to have nigerians steal the oil from their own people rather than have foreign corporations steal the oil. And in the best of case, the management of the resource will be dealt fairly and benefit the whole country.

[lordmeowmeow]

Nice work AlJazeera. Never ceases to amaze me how little American media outlets pay attention to huge stories like this. It's really sad, actually.

[najran300]

good job aljazeera