The Price of Oil

This report is an exploration of human rights violations related to oil exploration and productionin the Niger Delta, and of the role and responsibilities of the major multinational oil companies inrespect of those violations. The Niger Delta has for some years been the site of majorconfrontations between the people who live there and the Nigerian government security forces,resulting in extra-judicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and draconian restrictions on the rightsto freedom of expression, association, and assembly. These violations of civil and political rightshave been committed principally in response to protests about the activities of the multinationalcompanies that produce Nigeria's oil. Although the June 1998 death of former head of state Gen.Sani Abacha and his succession by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has brought a significantrelaxation in the unprecedented repression General Abacha inflicted on the Nigerian people, andGeneral Abubakar appears committed to ensuring the installation of an elected civilian government in May 1999, human rights abuses in the oil producing communities continue and the basic situation in the delta remains unchanged.