Uncovering the Hidden Riches of the Niger Delta Region We weren’t able to create a summary for you. Refresh your page to try again. Nov 21, 2025 · Former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has described the Niger Delta region as Nigeria’s “ hidden treasure ,” lamenting decades of... Etim Ekpo Esin For decades, crude oil theft in Nigeria’s NigerDelta operated in the shadows, complex, deeply entrenched, and devastating in both. TheNigerDeltaregion of Nigeria is surrounded by vast bodies of water, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean into an intricate network of rivers, creeks, mangroves, and estuaries that have sustained life for centuries. TheNigerDelta has been extensively studied in regard to the environmental, social, economic, and political issues that undergird violent militancy in the region. The cultural dimension, however, has received limited attention. Blessed with rich oil resources, theNigerDeltaregion of Nigeria generates massive revenue and contributes to the country's economic growth. However, the region's wealth has been a resource curse, as the local population's living standard hasn't improved since independence. Nigeria is the sixth largest exporter of crude oil in the world. Shell-BP was the first company to drill for oil in theNigerDelta in 1956. Today, 23 billion cubic meters of gas is flared in Nigeria alone each year, accounting for more than 13% of global gas flaring. TheNigerDeltaregion of Nigeria is richly endowed with both renewable and non-renewable natural resources. It contains 20 billion of Africa's proven 66 billion barrels of oil reserves and more than 3 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves. Conclusion Food security in theNigerDelta is threatened by several regional challenges.