The Curse of Black Liquid Gold: A Foucaldian Discourse Analysis of the Niger-Delta oil Spill Disaster.

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Abstract

: In the wake of the reoccurring oil spills in the Niger Delta in the last twelve years (2000-2012), scholars, politicians and the public alike have remained silent on the differing sociological language discourses from the oil companies and the tribes of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. In this study, a Foucauldian discourse analysis will be done on the 2000–2012 oil spills. This analysis will focus on revealing the varying differences with regards to the discourses used by both the Niger Delta residents and the respective multinational oil corporations that operate in the area. This Foucaldian analysis was done by examining primary media reports out of Nigeria, and the press releases from the multinational oil corporations that operate in the Niger Delta. The analysis will focus on the role of the media and its social construction of the Niger-delta residents; also the denial of social infrastructure, the military complex and the profit incentives of the various concerned parties will additionally be explored. The major finding is that ever since oil was discovered in the Niger Delta, its residents have known no peace and have lost their subsistent livelihood. The oil spillage has left the people of the area poor, destitute and with no source of advocacy from their own government.

Author

• Onyekachi Nnamdi Nwoke, York University