RESOURCES CONFLICTS AND GOVERNANCE: THE NIGERIAN DAUNTING CHALLENGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

Natural resources conflict, a growing phenomenon, affecting several states in the world, has become a daunting challenge in Nigeria. These conflicts, arising from the struggle and disputes ongold, diamond, timber, crude oil, coal, uranium and lead deposits among others have greatly impeded the state, its people, economy and factors of sustainable development. Nigeria, a mono-economy nation, severely hit by oil conflict politicsin its domain is greatly disturbed. This problematic hiccups not only affecting governance with damages, destructions and dislocations of the economy but had created unstable society. A lopsided shortfalldepleting output and gains to affecting themeans of livelihood, social civility, wages and income and the gross domestic product (GDP). This study mindful of this disequilibrium utilises secondary data and adopts descriptive, analytical concepts and indepth analysis approach. The study is situated on Conflict and Game Theories.The study revealed that some of the oil producing states uses manipulative tendencies to taunt the government. The study also observed that the government in several respect had not treated the people well due to swapping of gain between the producing states and non-producing states. The study noted that there were general neglect, deprivation, frustration and abandonment meted out to the oil producing states, thereby informing the rise and incessant conflict and, face- off between the host communities, militants and government officials.The studysuggest that government should adopt factors and instruments for sustainable developmentwith capacities; capital infrastructure and human capital development to improving the living conditions.