Abstract:
The collapse of the strategic oil relationship between the U.S and the Middle East suppliers brought the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta into a high profile global energy partnership. The strategic shift had developed as a form of buffer or counter weight against the insecurity of supply in the Persian Gulf. This study, therefore explores the rise of the Gulf of Guinea and Niger Delta as strategic partners. It illustrates the character of strategic or resource – rich region and the security challenges orchestrated by the attempts to protect and subsequently explore these resources. Predicated on Immanuel Wallerstein World System Theory which reveals that the direct consequences of capitalist drive for raw materials such as oil, market and profit often engender violence, the study illustrates the character of strategic oil resource – rich region and the security challenges orchestrated by attempts to protect and explore these resources. Our method of data collection is qualitative technique. We made use of secondary sources of data. In our method of data analysis we adopt the qualitative descriptive analysis. The study hypothesizes a causal relationship between crisis in the Niger Delta and the increase in U.S military presence or deployment in the region. It concludes that the resort to naked force for the protection of oil infrastructure and installations by the Nigerian State and the U.S has ignited crises and attendant deaths in the region. Finally, the study suggests addressing observable contradictions in the system engendered by oil wealth and distributive politics. This calls for the strengthening of the security institutions and policies of the Nigerian State to ensure strict adherence to global best practices in security considerations, good governance and the development of a comprehensive national security strategic plan that would holistically address the main security challenges facing the country and the region.
