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Crude Oil: Not a Renewable Resource

Saturday, 22 September 2007

It is no figment of imagination that Nigeria is one among many countries naturally blessed with an abundance of resources, crude oil inclusive. What is ironical however is that quite a large percentage of its teaming population live below poverty line. One may attribute this to mismanagement by the leaders who at various times have been deficient in their abilities to harness such resources to the optimal advantage of Nigerians.

While other resources have been completely abandoned for crude oil which incidentally is today the mainstay of the nation's economy, one is more disturbed by the ugly fact that the technical expertise required for exploration and exploitation of the resources largely depends on foreigners. What is also certain is that this resource will not last forever; it is not perennial, it surely will get dried up someday.

According to views of Experts, the Nigerian crude oil reserve is put at 35.3 billion barrels. If production continues at the current rate, the oil will not last more than four (4) decades, which is a matter of forty years before it gets dried up.

Saudi Arabia, the country with the largest crude oil reserve of 261.9 billion barrels has 66 years with which to get exhausted. Also Iraq with a reserve quantity of 115 billions of barrels still has about 100 years of life span. Kuwait with 101.5 billions of barrels has 100 years of sustainance. In the case of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) having 97.8 billion barrels in its reserve can only carry on in about 97 years time. Iran oil reserve is put at 125.8 billion barrels and would cease to flow in about 93 year?s time.

Nigeria should have more cause to worry because it ranks lowest in terms of quantity and production life span. The question as to what happens to its economy forty (40) years after inspires a bleak future especially as there will be no more crude oil to rely on thereafter; we implore the present generation of Nigerians and Nigerian governments to begin a redirection of their focus away from the crude oil to renewable resources which are more environmental friendly such as Wind, Solar and Hydro energy which are in abundant supply in Nigeria; they could be harnessed and developed to replace the post-oil-age era after forty years, but by which institutions or machinery would it be realized? One may ask!

The federal government established Center for Energy, Research and Development (CERD) at Nsuka and Ile-Ife respectively, and the Energy, Research and Training Center (ERTC) also in Zaria have been abandoned and allowed to rot away without serving the desired purpose they were established. They could help power our electricity for industrial and domestic use.

The availability of crude oil & gas in Nigeria has totally rendered all other viable sectors useless. The crude oil and gas have become the life-wire of the nation's economy where the people, all levels of governments and the politicians rely on for survival.

What will be the fate of younger generation of Nigerians when oil & gas is no more the means of sustainability is what can not be immediately determined by Nigerians themselves nor the various governments. Worse still the power-that-be in Abuja prefer to import kerosene, diesel and petrol for their personal gains.

We believe that after 40 years, the Niger Delta people and the entire region would have been abandoned and forgotten in the nation's scheme of things, politically, socially and economically, because what has consistently wakened the primary interest of all subsequent governments to this oil & gas rich region is the presence of these natural resources.

The people in the region will not only have to resort to their ghetto life, they will become more miserable and hopeless. This is why we advocate that the various governments in the Niger-Delta region should make wise use of their state's funds for meaningful projects that would enhance their local economies, rather than embark on frivolities because in 40 years oil may be no more.

It is time they plan ahead for the post-oil-age by investing on healthy and viable programmes that will enhance the living condition of their people. In the contemporary context, the rich are getting richer, while the poor are getting poorer. The politicians should begin to think ahead of plans that would sustain the next generation because when they are left in this state of inertia, it could be too devastating.

The public on their part should reject any such politicians whose character is doubtful and uncertain yet, seeking for public offices. Such politicians must have passion for the people's welfare, plan for post-oil-age, identity the people's socio-economic and political needs and proffer adequate solution so that the future of their state in particular and the region in general would be bright.

Zik Gbemre
National Coordinator
NIGER-DELTA PEACE COALITION

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