Citation

Onuoha FC. Disasters 2008; 33(3): 369-389.

Affiliation

African Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, National Defence College, Nigeria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1467-7717.2008.01079.x

PMID

19178551

Abstract

Since its discovery in Nigeria in 1956 crude oil has been a source of mixed blessing to the country. It is believed to have generated enormous wealth, but it has also claimed a great many lives. Scholarly attention on the impact of oil on security in Nigeria has largely focused on internal conflicts rather than on how disasters associated with oil pipeline vandalisation have impacted on human security in terms of causing bodily injuries and death, destroying livelihoods and fracturing families. This paper examines how pipeline vandalisation affects human security in these ways. It identifies women and children as those who are hardest hit and questions why the poor are the most vulnerable in oil pipeline disasters in this country. It recommends the adoption of a comprehensive and integrated framework of disaster management that will ensure prompt response to key early warning signs, risk-reduction and appropriate mitigation and management strategies.

Keywords: Pipeline transportation

Language: en