Niger Delta Chief

Niger Delta Chief
Niger Delta oil pollution, photo by Ed Kashi
Niger Delta Chief
Niger Delta oil pollution, photo by Ed Kashi

Niger Delta Chief

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Nigeria’s Niger Delta region is home to Africa’s largest oil industry. Over recent years, violence keeps flaring up in the oil rich Delta. Militants routinely blockade key waterways to prevent the export of crude oil. They claim to fight for a fair share of the oil profits.

The Nigerian government earns billions of dollars yearly from oil exports. In spite of this income, people who live on Nigeria’s oil reserves live in abject poverty.

Oil was first discovered over 50 years ago near the small Delta village of Oloibiri. The World Vision Report‘s Sarah Simpson reflects with one of its chiefs about what the discovery meant for his people.

The story was provided by the Public Radio Exchange.