Nigeria is an oil-exporting country and a number of important Western companies are involved in the oil industry in Nigeria. While it is good that they are investing in that economy, it's a bit of a problem the way they go about their business in an environmentally destructive manner. Which uses methods they wouldn't dare to use in their own home countries, to say the least. And which also imposes lots of burdens on ordinary communities in these communities where they work in, particularly in the Niger Delta.
So I think the logic of resource extraction in an irresponsible manner is something that needs to be looked at. Secondly is the conduct of the oil multinationals vis-a-vis the communities they're in. They're often very repressive, often bringing in agencies of the Nigerian State to suppress the local community. And corrupting local institutions by way of buying favour. These two things are wrong ways of extracting resources. And unsustainable ways of extracting resources. And the lack of concern for local communities. I think it's something that needs to be looked at.
Abdul Raufu Mustafa is a lecturer in African Development at Oxford University in the UK and is originally from Nigeria.