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Violence and National Development in Nigeria: The Political Economy of Youth Restiveness in the Niger Delta

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  • Jeremiah O. Arowosegbe

Abstract

One element in the contradictions underpinning Nigeria's development crisis is the marginalisation of the youth. This article examines the factors that influence youth restiveness in Nigeria's Niger Delta region. It discusses the impact of conservative elite politics and the oil-centric political economy characterised by the impoverishment, neglect and the repression of the oil-producing communities on the youth in the region. The article raises pertinent questions on the violence--development dialectic, drawing upon the context, dynamics, explanations and impact of youth violence in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta. It examines the contradictions and injustices existing against the ethnic minorities of the oil-bearing communities in the region, from the centralisation of oil revenues by the federal centre and how these have generated marginalisation and violent conflict in the region. Detailing the repressive responses by the Nigerian state and the forms of violence that have occurred in the region between 1999 and 2007, the article discusses the implications of youth violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta for national development in Nigeria. It provides a context for understanding the connection between youth involvement in violent conflict and its deleterious impact on Nigeria's development. Tapping into issues of ethnicity and high-stake elite politics, it locates violent youth behaviour in the politics of exclusion and proffers suggestions for restoring the trust of marginalised youth as a necessary step toward development and peace in Nigeria.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremiah O. Arowosegbe, 2009. "Violence and National Development in Nigeria: The Political Economy of Youth Restiveness in the Niger Delta," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(122), pages 575-594, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:revape:v:36:y:2009:i:122:p:575-594
    DOI: 10.1080/03056240903346178
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    1. World Bank, 2000. "World Development Indicators 2000," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13828, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gloria Olori & Dorida Oyigbo & Iheanyichukwu Ozurumba & Christian Olori & Judith Ugwuoke & Chinyere Anigbogu & Beatrice Onah, 2022. "Analysis of the Effect of Militancy Activities on Students Enrollment in Niger Delta: Implications for Adult and Vocational Education," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(1), pages 108-108, February.
    2. Lotanna Ernest Emediegwu, 2020. "Does educational investment enhance capacity development for Nigerian youths? An autoregressive distributed lag approach," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(S1), pages 45-53, November.
    3. Jeremiah O. Arowosegbe, 2011. "Forum 2011," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 42(1), pages 349-365, January.

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