Delta du Niger, la guerre du brut

Summary

The video script delves into the Niger Delta's plight, where oil wealth coexists with poverty and conflict. It features General Fighter John Togo, who resists government amnesty, and highlights the environmental devastation caused by oil companies like Shell and Total. The narrative exposes the corruption within Nigeria's oil-rich regions, where locals suffer from pollution and lack basic amenities despite massive oil revenues. The script also addresses the struggle for a fair share of oil profits and the impact of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project on communities.

Takeaways

• 🛑 The Niger Delta is depicted as a conflict zone with ongoing issues related to oil exploitation, poverty, and repression.
• 💣 John Togo, a rebel leader, threatens to blow up oil facilities to draw government attention to the plight of the Niger Delta people and their struggle against oil companies.
• 💼 The oil wealth in Nigeria, amounting to around €50 billion annually, is heavily concentrated in the Niger Delta but has led to environmental devastation and not improved living standards for the locals.
• 🚨 There's a significant military presence in the region due to the conflict, with constant surveillance and restrictions on movement, affecting the freedom of the local population.
• 🌊 The environmental impact of oil spills and gas flaring has severely polluted water sources and land, causing health issues and disrupting the traditional livelihoods of the Niger Delta communities.
• 🤝 The Nigerian National Oil Company (NNPC) and foreign oil companies like Agip, Shell, Chevron, and Total are implicated in the lack of compensation and support for affected communities.
• 💔 The script highlights the tragic story of Ken Saro-Wiwa, an environmental activist executed after a non-violent protest against Shell's operations, which galvanized further resistance.
• 🏭 The script describes the dangerous and illegal practices of local bunkering (oil theft and refining), which has become a means of survival for some Niger Delta residents.
• 🏛️ The government's amnesty program for militants is criticized as a superficial measure that doesn't address the root causes of the conflict, such as resource control and environmental concerns.
• 📈 The oil companies continue to expand their operations despite the security threats and social unrest, with a focus on increasing production and profitability.
• 🌐 The script raises concerns about the lack of transparency and community engagement in large-scale projects like the Brass LNG, which may further marginalize local communities.

Q & A

What is the Niger Delta like in terms of conflict and oil exploitation?

The Niger Delta is depicted as a conflict zone with a history of oil exploitation. It is a region rich in oil reserves, exploited by major companies, but also marked by poverty, repression, and war. The local population is affected by the environmental devastation caused by oil extraction and the lack of equitable distribution of oil wealth.

Who is John Togo and what is his role in the Niger Delta conflict?

John Togo is a rebel leader in the Niger Delta who is combating oil companies. He threatens to blow up oil facilities and kidnap people if the government and corporations do not react to his demands, aiming to draw attention to the plight of his people.

What are the main targets of the rebels in the Niger Delta?

The main targets of the rebels include export lines, refineries, and filling stations. These are the critical infrastructures related to the oil industry that the rebels aim to disrupt to make their voices heard and to protest against the exploitation of their resources.

What is the impact of oil spills and environmental degradation on the Niger Delta communities?

Oil spills and environmental degradation have severe consequences for the Niger Delta communities. They face pollution of water sources, loss of agricultural land, and health issues due to contaminated water. The spills often result from both genuine accidents and sabotage, leading to a degraded environment and a loss of livelihoods.

How does the Nigerian government and oil companies respond to the environmental and social issues in the Niger Delta?

The response from the Nigerian government and oil companies is often inadequate and focused on maintaining control and profits. There is a lack of compensation for the affected communities, and the government is accused of being in business with the oil companies, thus not acting in support of the community.

What is the significance of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni people's struggle in the Niger Delta?

Ken Saro-Wiwa was a leader of the Ogoni people who led a non-violent struggle against the environmental devastation caused by Shell Oil Company. His execution, along with eight others, after a parody of a trial, highlighted the struggle for environmental justice and human rights in the Niger Delta and inspired other groups to fight for their rights.

What is the amnesty program and why was it introduced in the Niger Delta?

The amnesty program was introduced by the Nigerian federal government as a response to the widespread insurrection and violence in the Niger Delta. It aimed to pacify the militants by offering them money and promises of non-prosecution in exchange for surrendering their weapons. The program was a measure to restore peace and protect oil production.

What are the economic and social conditions of the people in the Niger Delta compared to the wealth generated from oil?

Despite the vast wealth generated from oil, the people of the Niger Delta live in poverty. The oil revenue benefits only a small percentage of the population, while the majority struggles with basic needs such as clean water, healthcare, and employment. The region is marked by a stark contrast between the wealth from oil and the poverty of the local communities.

How do local bunkering and illegal refineries impact the Niger Delta environment and communities?

Local bunkering and illegal refineries contribute to further environmental degradation and pose significant health risks to the communities. The process of refining crude oil in these makeshift facilities is dangerous, often leading to explosions and pollution. The residue from these operations, such as tar, further contaminates the environment.

What is the Brass LNG project and how does it affect the local communities in the Niger Delta?

The Brass LNG project is a large-scale gas terminal project in the Niger Delta, involving significant investment and the participation of major oil companies. The project is expected to bring economic benefits, but there are concerns about its environmental impact and the equitable distribution of its benefits among the local communities. The project has also been a source of conflict and division among the communities.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Conflict in the Niger Delta

The script introduces the Niger Delta as a conflict zone due to oil exploitation. It features a self-proclaimed General Fighter, John Togo, who is part of a rebel group targeting oil facilities to draw government attention to their plight. The region's wealth from oil is contrasted with the reality of repression, poverty, and war. The script describes the challenges of arranging a meeting with Togo, highlighting the military's tight surveillance and the risks involved.

05:03

🏘️ The Impact of Oil on Niger Delta Communities

This paragraph delves into the consequences of oil spills and the Nigerian military's response to the conflict. It details the difficulties faced by locals, including constant harassment and extortion. The script also explores the reasons behind the Nigerian people taking up arms, including the environmental devastation caused by oil companies like Agip, and the lack of compensation for affected communities. The impact of pollution on health and the environment is underscored, with references to the history of oil exploration in the region.

10:16

🌲 The Devastation of the Niger Delta Environment

The script paints a bleak picture of the Niger Delta's environment, highlighting the pollution and degradation caused by oil companies. It discusses the partnership between foreign oil companies and the Nigerian National Oil Company (NNPC), and the federal government's stake in the joint venture. The narrative includes personal accounts of locals struggling with the loss of their livelihoods, the contamination of water resources, and the health hazards posed by the polluted environment.

15:28

📊 Oil Wealth and Inequality in Nigeria

This paragraph examines the distribution of oil wealth in Nigeria, revealing a stark contrast between the revenues generated from oil and the living conditions of the Niger Delta's inhabitants. It features an interview with Timipre Sylva, the Governor of Bayelsa State, who discusses the state's efforts to improve infrastructure and services using oil revenues. However, the script also raises questions about the extent of corruption and the systemic nature of the issue, suggesting that the benefits of oil are not equitably shared among the population.

20:28

🔥 The Dangers of Clandestine Oil Refineries

The script exposes the hazardous practices of local bunkering, where crude oil is refined in dangerous, makeshift refineries. It details the process and the risks involved, including explosions, fires, and health issues from the residue. The narrative also touches on the broader impact of the oil industry on local economies and the environment, as well as the desperation driving people to engage in this dangerous activity for survival.

25:31

🛑 The Struggle for Environmental Justice in the Niger Delta

This paragraph recounts the story of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a leader who fought against environmental devastation caused by Shell Oil Company in the Niger Delta. It discusses the non-violent protests led by Saro-Wiwa and the tragic outcome of his execution following a controversial trial. The script also explores the legacy of his struggle and the ongoing fight for environmental justice in the region, including the formation of MEND and the government's response to the militancy.

30:36

🚨 The Continuing Resistance in the Niger Delta

The script follows a clandestine meeting with John Togo, a rebel leader who has refused the government's amnesty offer. It presents Togo's perspective on the amnesty as a dead point and his determination to continue the fight against oil companies and authorities. The narrative includes Togo's war strategy, targeting oil infrastructure, and his ultimatum to the government and international companies, highlighting the ongoing tension and conflict in the region.

35:37

🏭 Expansion and Security in the Oil Industry

This paragraph focuses on the expansion plans of oil companies in the Niger Delta, particularly Total's activities and the security measures in place to protect their operations. It discusses the company's history in Nigeria, the shift from crude oil to gas production, and the long-term outlook for their reserves. The script also touches on the community relations and the company's efforts to prevent tensions, despite the presence of security personnel and the underlying threats.

40:39

🌐 The Brass LNG Project and Its Implications

The script explores the Brass LNG project, a massive undertaking involving the Nigerian state and international oil companies. It discusses the potential economic benefits and the environmental concerns associated with the project. The narrative includes interactions with local communities, revealing their lack of information and the divisions caused by the project. The script also highlights the political and corporate interests at play, as well as the potential for further conflict and unrest.

45:43

🚨 Fear and Intimidation in the Niger Delta Communities

The final paragraph describes the fear and intimidation faced by local communities and activists in the Niger Delta. It details an incident where the presence of the press and activists led to a confrontation with individuals allegedly linked to oil companies. The script underscores the power dynamics between oil companies, local communities, and the government, and the challenges faced by those seeking to hold these entities accountable for their actions.

Keywords

💡Niger Delta

The Niger Delta is a region in Nigeria rich in oil and gas resources. It is depicted in the video as a conflict zone due to the exploitation of its resources and the resulting environmental and social issues. The Niger Delta is central to the video's theme as it illustrates the struggle between local inhabitants and oil corporations over the region's wealth and the impact on their lives.

💡Oil exploitation

Oil exploitation refers to the extraction of oil from the ground, often by large corporations. In the video, it symbolizes repression, poverty, and war, highlighting the negative consequences of the oil industry on the Niger Delta's environment and its people. The script mentions that the oil is exploited by the world's biggest companies, causing significant environmental damage and contributing to the region's unrest.

💡Rebels and Militants

Rebels and militants in the context of the video are individuals or groups that oppose the oil companies and the Nigerian government's control over the Niger Delta's resources. John Togo, mentioned in the script, is a rebel leader who threatens to blow up oil facilities to draw attention to the government's neglect of the region's needs. The rebels represent the local resistance against what they perceive as unjust exploitation of their land.

💡Amnesty

Amnesty in this script refers to a government initiative aimed at granting pardon to militants in the Niger Delta in exchange for laying down their arms. The amnesty program is presented as a controversial measure, criticized by some as a temporary solution that does not address the root causes of the conflict. It is a key concept in understanding the government's response to the region's unrest.

💡Environmental devastation

Environmental devastation is the severe damage to the natural environment caused by human activities, such as oil spills and gas flaring. The video describes the Niger Delta as the most polluted and degraded environment in the world due to oil exploitation. The script provides examples of water contamination and the destruction of local ecosystems, which have dire consequences for the health and livelihoods of the people living there.

💡Resource curse

The resource curse is an economic concept where countries and regions with abundant natural resources, such as oil, often experience slower economic development and less economic prosperity than those with fewer natural resources. In the video, the Niger Delta's vast oil wealth is portrayed as a curse rather than a blessing, as it has led to conflict, corruption, and underdevelopment in the region.

💡Gas flaring

Gas flaring is the process of burning off natural gas that is released during oil extraction because it is not needed or cannot be economically captured. The video script describes gas flaring as a continuous practice in the Niger Delta, contributing to air pollution and climate change. It is an example of the environmental impact of the oil industry in the region.

💡Indigenous people

Indigenous people in the script refer to the native ethnic groups of the Niger Delta, such as the Ogoni and Ijaw, who have historical ties to the land and its resources. The video discusses how these communities have been negatively affected by oil exploitation and have been fighting for their rights and compensation. The term is crucial for understanding the social dynamics and the struggle for justice in the Niger Delta.

💡Bunkering

Bunkering, as mentioned in the script, is the illegal refining of crude oil, often in makeshift facilities. It is a dangerous and polluting activity that has become a main occupation for some locals in the Niger Delta due to the lack of other economic opportunities. The script describes local bunkering as a reflection of the desperation and the need for survival among the people in the region.

💡Corruption

Corruption in the video is depicted as a systemic issue within the Nigerian government and oil industry. It is suggested that the oil revenue is not fairly distributed among the population but is instead concentrated among a few politicians and government officials. The script implies that corruption is a significant factor contributing to the region's underdevelopment and social unrest.

💡LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)

LNG refers to natural gas that has been converted to liquid form for ease of storage or transport. In the video, the development of an LNG project in the Niger Delta is presented as a controversial venture that brings both economic potential and environmental concerns. The script raises questions about the impact of the LNG project on local communities and whether it will lead to improved living conditions or further exploitation.

Highlights

The Niger Delta is portrayed as a conflict zone with ongoing issues of repression, poverty, and war due to oil exploitation.

John Togo, a rebel leader, threatens to blow up oil facilities to draw government attention to the Niger Delta's plight.

Nigeria's vast oil wealth is concentrated in the Niger Delta, yet the region remains one of poverty and underdevelopment.

The Nigerian government and oil corporations are accused of not acting in support of the Niger Delta communities due to vested business interests.

Militant groups like MEND resort to violence, including kidnappings and attacks on oil installations, as a response to the neglect by the government and oil companies.

The amnesty program for militants is criticized as a superficial measure that does not address the root causes of the conflict in the Niger Delta.

Environmental devastation due to oil spills and gas flaring is highlighted, affecting the livelihoods and health of local communities.

The documentary exposes the lack of compensation and support for communities affected by oil industry operations, such as the Agip oil spill.

The impact of oil exploration on the environment is severe, with water sources contaminated and land degraded, leading to health issues like Alzheimer's disease.

Locals resort to illegal activities like bunkering crude oil for survival, despite the dangerous conditions and risks to their health.

The Niger Delta's oil revenue is largely benefiting a small percentage of the Nigerian population, with the majority living in poverty.

The government's allocation of oil wealth is questioned, as luxurious developments in Abuja contrast sharply with the lack of basic amenities in the Niger Delta.

The narrative of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni struggle against Shell's environmental devastation is recounted, highlighting the use of non-violent protest.

The execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the subsequent disillusionment among the Niger Delta's youth led to the rise of militant groups like MEND.

The documentary reveals the military's role in suppressing protests and the subsequent escalation of violence in the region.

The oil companies' security measures and the presence of the Joint Task Force (JTF) are criticized for exacerbating tensions and conflicts.

The fear and mistrust of oil companies among local communities are evident, as they express concerns over potential exploitation and lack of transparency.

The documentary concludes by emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by the Niger Delta despite the oil wealth, with the region's future remaining uncertain.

Transcripts

Calling me a criminal and a pirate?

I'm not like that.

I'm a General Fighter in the Niger Delta.

What we see

and the reality is that the Niger Delta still looks like a conflict zone.

You know they can stop it.

You know it, but they're all hungry.

They're part of the business.

The export lines are the targets.

The refineries are the targets.

The filling stations are the target.

Nigeria.

One hundred and fifty million inhabitants, more than 500 oil fields,

more than 7,000 kilometers of pipelines,

and an annual income of around €50 billion.

A vast underground wealth concentrated in the Niger Delta.

It all began in 1956, when the first reserves were found.

The Nigerians were hoping for an El Dorado.

Today, they're living their worst nightmare.

The oil exploited by the world's biggest companies

is a symbol of repression, poverty, and war.

On February 4th, 2011,

just two days after our arrival in Nigeria,

we read in the press that one of the rebels combating the oil companies

has given the authorities an ultimatum.

His name is John Togo,

and he's threatening to blow up the oil facilities in the Delta.

I managed to reach him by telephone.

Why do you intend to resume attacks?

First, it's to draw the attention of my government.

We're going to attack the oil facilities.

If the corporations or the government don't react,

we'll start kidnapping.

Togo's men have set up camp in a secret location in the Niger Delta.

I suggest that we meet.

The military surveillance is very tight, honestly.

The area is full of machine-gun-mounted boats.

I don't want you to be attacked if you come.

I can't vouch for your life.

Since November 2010,

the fighting has intensified between the army and the rebels.

On December 1st,

military helicopters bombarded a Delta village

close to the guerrilla's camp.

As we try to organize our meeting with John,

we decide to visit this village.

Our guide's name is Enaibo, who used to live in the community.

There's a gunboat there.

When you get there, they'll check what you're carrying.

If you want to go anywhere, you have to surrender,

raise your hands, and do all kinds of things.

That is what they do because of the crisis they have with John Togo.

When it's 7:30, you're not allowed to pass that area.

You're not allowed because of the military.

That place is out of bounds

and people are living there in the afternoon.

We don't want that kind of thing in whole area.

We're very scared. There's no total freedom.

After just half an hour, we hit the first blockade.

Discretion is called for and filming is not easy.

Where are you going?

-To Ayakoromo. -Ayakoromo.

-Where have you come from? -From Warri.

Take your hat off.

Good afternoon.

Every quarter of an hour, there's another checkpoint.

At the third, we have to turn around.

Enaibo's village is out of bounds for foreigners.

We could never land there.

As a testimony to the army's attack here, only a few photos remain.

The bombings killed 11 people and wounded around 50 others.

The Niger Delta still looks like a conflict zone.

Even though there are no oil pipelines being blown up,

the checkpoints are still there and people are being harassed.

There are all sorts of extortions going on and constant bribes.

Imagine a local villager or trader in the Niger Delta

going from one town to another and being constantly harassed

on a daily basis by police and JTF soldiers.

That's completely unacceptable.

What are the reasons that have led to the Nigerian people taking arms?

As we wait to meet the rebels,

I decide to begin the investigation in Yenagoa.

The trees I can see from my window, I'm told,

hide the biggest oil slick in the history of oil.

A pipeline leak occurred on the site of the Italian company Agip.

After a 45-minute drive along the Delta's rough roads,

we reached the scene of the disaster to be welcomed by angry villagers.

On Friday, I saw a column of smoke from afar.

You can see that these are planting farms.

The farms are very close.

These are farming environments.

What we're seeing here is a regular thing in the Niger Delta.

Sometimes, we do experience genuine spills

and sometimes it's a result of sabotage.

You can see that that place is really degraded.

If you go further, you'll see more of it.

For some ten years, Morris has been tracking the infractions

committed by the foreign companies and the Nigerian government.

With these people, there's no compensation or anything.

If you see my community now, there's nowhere to bathe or drink,

and no way to survive now.

Do you see this road?

We have the right to have a road and bridge to our community,

No lights or anything.

Go to the other side and you'll see what's going on.

Do you also suspect that contractors of the company come and cause sabotage?

They are because there's no negotiation or anything, so we suspected them.

We suspected that this is a business and it's a political system they have.

We need roads and we need hospitals.

We need roads and hospitals in our community.

It's okay.

The history of black gold here dates back to the 1950s,

when the first well was dug,

barely ten kilometers away by the Shell company.

On each site, Morris takes water samples.

Analysis has revealed that the water drunk by the villagers

contains 165 times the quantity of aluminum authorized in France,

which in the long run can lead to brain disorders

and Alzheimer's disease.

Before Shell arrived, palm oil was made here,

but the oil industry has completely choked the environment.

Witness this river of crude oil in a surreal natural setting.

The environment speaks for itself.

When they say the Niger Delta environment

is the most polluted and degraded environment in the world,

this is a very typical example.

Fire is still on every water resource for the community.

It has been polluted.

The environment is known for a series of spills.

Like all oil companies,

Agip is obliged to work in partnership with the NNPC,

the Nigerian National Oil Company.

Equally responsible for maintaining the installations,

they both also share the profits.

The federal government has a share in a joint venture.

That's what we know.

However, we identify Agip, Shell, Chevron, and Total pipelines.

All that is written. When you go, you'll know.

The community will identify and tell you this pipeline belongs to this company.

What we know is that the federal government

is in business with the oil companies, and take a greater share.

That's why the government is not acting in support of the community

because their business holdings are at stake.

Every year for 25 years, the oil dumped in the Niger Delta

has been the equivalent of the Exxon Valdez disaster.

Agip, Shell, and Chevron set up in the Delta State in the early 1960s.

Without the authorization of the JTF, the Nigerian army's task force,

it's impossible to approach the American companies' facilities.

Our request was denied,

but we bypassed the military blockades with the locals' help.

Our contact is to meet us with a speedboat at this small landing stage.

We're trying to beat the resistance of the JTF.

The route from here to my community doesn't have those checkpoints

that have been placed by the JTF over there.

We're passing through the Ondo Road,

but I'm thinking that maybe they're consulting with the oil companies,

whom we're indirectly fighting.

Whatever they're doing now is dictated by the oil company.

That's the way I look at it.

Tsekelewu, Midwest's hometown of around 20,000 people,

is located just a few miles from Chevron's plant.

On arriving, we comply with the local welcome traditions.

Midwest introduces us to the elders who have to authorize our stay here.

The negotiation is over.

We follow the riverbank.

Before Chevron arrived, there were raffia plantations here,

an important economic resource for the region.

Today, everything has disappeared.

Saltwater came in as a result

of the white minerals of the oil companies.

When they opened, they altered the Atlantic Ocean.

Saltwater came in through the Atlantic Ocean

and destroyed all the trees that were here.

There's no solid soil anywhere.

This has left all the elderly and the youth jobless.

As you can see, all of them are not working here.

Except Patience.

To eke out a living,

she sells water she fetches every morning from the foot of the oil rig,

four kilometers away.

We have to fetch the water at the foot of a platform.

It's all we can get today.

Before the companies arrived, the river water was pure and very good.

We could drink it.

They've polluted it. We can't drink it like we used to.

We're forced into drinking water that comes from a pipeline.

For a 20-liter canister, the locals pay €1,

and yet they say the water is impure and causes dysentery and hepatitis.

The hospital is too far.

My son is sick.

-Is it because of the water? -Yes.

-Is there a doctor? -No, there are no doctors.

-A real doctor. -No doctor.

No doctors.

It's too far and certainly too expensive.

We take advantage of the dawn light

to get closer to the American companies' installations.

Chevron knows that they caused the problem.

When you get to the NPCC, there are areas they wouldn't want you to ask about.

It's just like what we're experiencing here.

They don't want this story to go beyond the shores of this country.

After just 24 hours here,

the military is already aware of our presence.

The game of cat and mouse starts over.

Midwest tells us that a Navy patrol

is on the lookout in the channel around the platform.

We slip through two surveillance rounds and go ashore,

where a local villager is to escort us.

We hike the last few kilometers on foot under the cover of the forest.

Caution is vital.

We mustn't alert the Chevron security to our presence here.

Afari.

What's happening here?

They're fetching water.

They're fetching water.

This is the only water we can drink.

This water is not good.

This is the water that they use to cool their engines down.

This is the place where Patience gets her water.

Not far away, a flare stack burns gas from the platform 24/7.

Do you see the gas flaring?

They told us there'll be no gas flaring or whatsoever.

Today, you can see there's gas flaring from then until now.

From 1992 until now.

When this gas is flaring up, there's a black smoke.

That black smoke is over our heads, and when the rain fall,

you can see some black particles inside the water.

You cannot drink it because of this gas flaring.

You can see there's no land.

In fact, everywhere we're dying.

We're dying.

No fish or anything whatsoever.

We're dying.

Pollution, devastation.

The hopes created by the discovery of oil half a century ago

are ancient history.

In the Niger Delta today, oil is regarded as a curse,

and yet the country exports almost two million barrels a day

at $100 a barrel.

Where does the money go?

The revenue from oil

generated from oil exploration in the Niger Delta,

according to the statistics,

is benefiting maybe 1 to 5% of the population of Nigeria.

For the people of the Niger Delta, they can see the oil money in Abuja.

The Nigerian government built a brand-new,

swanky state federal capital in about 15 years,

and it's there for everyone to see.

It was built with oil money,

but you'll also see few very rich individuals.

Billionaires, Nigerians, oil money, politicians.

Government officials are really rich from oil money.

One of these politicians is the Governor of Bayelsa State for the past four years,

responsible for 1.7 million inhabitants

and oil revenues of hundreds of millions of euros every year.

An important man,

for whom the army deploys around 30 men from the Joint Task Force.

His name is Timipre Sylva.

When production is at its peak,

we earn something like a billion or not up to a billion,

but maybe about $800 million in a year.

Right now, we earn about $500 million a year.

About the pollution, do you share the money with people?

Yes, in fact, I've been very mindful of that

because I believe that you have to look after your people first before yourself.

We'll probably be the first state in Nigeria

to guarantee uninterrupted power supply.

We also decided to work on the water supply in the community,

and we've been able to supply water, and we're now regulating the water.

We also decided to tackle the health system

because we felt that it really should be tackled.

We decided to build some of the best health facilities

you can ever find in Nigeria.

It's almost an insult to the people.

I think that,

for a governor like Timipre Sylva,

who's been in power for almost four years now.

That's enough time to show the people,

through the revenues he has collected from the federal government,

what he can do for them.

Does Timipre Sylva represent the image of corruption in Nigeria?

That will be a bit too simplistic.

I would say that he's not alone.

It's a system.

It's a patronage system.

In Nigeria, oil has, therefore, become a symbol of corruption.

Five hundred million for the Governor of Bayelsa,

while his population survives on just €2 a day.

Caroline runs a movement battling for the rights of the Ijaw,

indigenous to the southern Delta regions.

What we're going to see now is local bunkering going on now.

That's what we'll see.

They refine in a local way.

Crude oil is very dangerous.

It explodes.

Sometimes people die.

The way to do it is in standard refineries.

That's not a refinery, so it's very dangerous.

In this village,

bunkering has become the locals' main occupation.

A lucrative activity that's vital to their survival and illegal.

How many liters of crude oil are used to produce a barrel of petrol?

-Seven cans. -Seven cans or 20 liters of crude oil.

Yes, containing 20 liters of crude oil.

When you've obtained the fuel, diesel, or kerosene,

what do you do with the residue?

The residue is tar.

You throw the tar away because you don't know what to do with it?

Yes, but tell them they'll see all that when they're there.

Okay, all right.

The community's refinery is not far from the village,

less than a kilometer away on the edge of a creek.

It was built on the land of a local inhabitant.

After being stolen, the crude oil is stored on this boat.

It's then pumped to these tanks before being burnt.

The petrol will then be sold across the Delta region.

Six petrol boilers work in shifts throughout the day.

They're producing 10,000 liters a day.

-Of fuel? -Yes, 10,000 liters of fuel a day.

-Is it very dangerous? -It's very dangerous.

Sometimes it even catches fire.

This whole place is bushy.

The bush sometimes catches fire. They risk their lives.

Sometimes, they even get themselves burned.

You cannot tell what they need for the day to do this

or how they'll manage their lives.

What's happening here is going to make their lives very short because,

in this situation, if you are here for maybe six months,

you'll see that the effect will gradually come.

I feel really bad.

Even inside my mind.

I'm very ill.

Every day, the sun and the fire is eating.

It's very disturbing to my heart.

There are no jobs.

I just manage for the moment.

Are you crying?

Why are you crying?

Fire is burning us.

We go to the hospital and some people die.

We spend a lot of money.

See my back.

Life expectancy in Nigeria is barely 48 years.

For these people, it's reduced by several more

for a reward of just €100 a month.

Throughout the Delta,

the riverbanks are darkened and sullied by clandestine refineries.

The federal government and the army officially intends to destroy them,

but they're still here.

The JTF is everywhere.

They're everywhere.

Whenever they meet them, they take their own share and go.

That's what I'm telling you.

If the JTF wants to raid everywhere to stop this thing,

you know they can stop it.

You know it, but they're all hungry.

They're part of the business.

They come, take their own share, and they go.

They're part of it.

They say that the oil belongs to everybody.

Don't forget that we have other resources that can give us money in this country.

We have cocoa and granite.

They have minerals that can give us money in the country,

but right now, as I'm talking to you, they've stopped everything.

Everybody now depends on oil alone.

Like I said, I keep asking the question,

when the oil is finished, what will happen next?

A military convoy for a Total executive.

After four months of negotiations,

the French oil company has opened the doors to its plant in Nigeria.

We head for the Akpo platform, 180 kilometers off the coast.

Total's biggest.

Terry Bourgeois is in charge of the Africa department.

Our visit takes place under the watchful eye of this man,

a communications officer, especially flown in from Paris.

One hundred and fifty people work on Akpo, including around 40 French expatriates.

Apart from management, we were forbidden from asking questions.

Comments are strictly controlled.

What interests Terry Bourgeois is the group's figures and performance.

Total produces around 450,000 barrels of oil a day,

equivalent to about 10% of the group's production in the world.

Looking towards 2015 and 2016, we could double current production levels.

Numbers and more numbers.

Almost enough to make us forget

that seven French expats employed in the oil sector

were kidnapped in October 2010 in Nigerian territorial waters.

A few months ago, there were a series of attacks

against the oil installations near the coast in the Akpo plant.

Things have come down since then and we've suffered no other incidents,

neither us nor colleagues

or other operators in the first few months.

When this kind of incident happens, we stay on guard for long periods.

If the oil companies are targets for pirates,

it's because for the past 20 years,

the oil money has not been distributed among the locals,

and their anger has grown into widespread insurrection.

Blessed be the Ogoni people!

Ken Saro-Wiwa was the leader of the Ogoni people.

He led the struggle of the Ogoni people

against the environmental devastation of their land by the Shell Oil Company.

In 1993, for the first time since oil was discovered,

thousands of Ogonis, an ethnic minority in the Delta,

voiced their opposition to Shell's presence here.

The struggle he led was remarkably non-violent.

We only carried leaves and protested against people.

As a result of our protest, Shell was forced to leave Ogoni.

To move out of the Ogoni land.

The company closed 96 wells.

One year later,

Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his companions were arrested and tried.

Strangely, the accusations had nothing to do with oil.

They were merely accused of conspiring to murder four Ogoni chiefs.

A parody of a trial began.

At the end of the day,

they convicted Ken and the others

and executed them.

That was the saddest moment for the people of the Niger Delta because,

even though it was an Ogoni-led fight,

all of us, as young people in universities,

felt that this was an angle that we should contribute to.

When he died, we were disillusioned,

and it made us begin to look for new solutions

after the departure of that leader.

We felt that we should transplant what he has done into the Ijaw territories.

Over 31 million people in the Niger Delta

could be deeply conscientized like the Ogoni people.

That's why we did that.

We were then visited with arms by the Nigerian Army.

When we went out to protest in our communities against oil companies,

they came cracking down on us with arms.

Military repression incited certain Ijaws to take up arms.

Groups of freedom fighters were formed,

coming together under the name MEND in late 2005.

A chronic cycle of violence swept through the delta.

Attacks on pipelines were followed by the kidnappings of Westerners.

In 2007, oil production fell by 20%.

Two years later,

the federal government proposed an amnesty.

When the economy, or oil production,

is affected that much by the activities of the militants,

that means that there's much less revenue coming into the federal coffers,

so the federal government had to do something

to try to pacify the militants

and bring this crisis to an end.

It would take until late 2009

for surrendered weapons to emerge from Delta hideouts

in exchange for money and promises that MEND militants would not be tried.

I'm under clear and targeted instruction

by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND,

to hand over these arms and ammunition

and to demonstrate its commitment to seek peaceful ways

and means of resolving the Niger Delta crisis.

Firstly, the amnesty program is illegal

in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution.

With the laws of the Nigerian state.

There's nothing like amnesty.

It's just a palliative measure to deceive the people

and make them feel that the government has given something.

In Nigeria, oil money can apparently buy anything,

including peace.

Twenty thousand rebels,

like the former freedom fighter leader Asari Dokubo,

have so far accepted the amnesty.

For how much longer?

We're talking about fundamental issues of stolen sovereignty.

We're talking about fundamental issues of stolen resources.

We're talking about fundamental issues of stolen land.

We're talking about the fundamental issues of stolen water sources.

These are the issues that we're talking about.

It's not about bribing people with 65,000 or bribing people with more money.

That's not the issue.

It's 8 p.m. somewhere in the Delta.

John Togo has finally agreed to meet us, but in secret.

He's the last of the rebels to refuse the government amnesty.

Why?

Who is he in reality?

A bandit, a highwayman, or a diehard resistant?

I know it's said that he sometimes kills for no reason.

It's midnight.

After four hours on the road,

we finally reach our rendezvous point in the mangrove,

where a few militants are waiting to take us across the frontline.

After an hour in the speedboat,

we finally reach a village

where we have to remain in hiding for five hours,

waiting for the rebels to come and fetch us.

These are my soldiers.

Well-educated.

-You're very close with them? -Very close.

This is my beloved.

They're my beloved.

Well-trained snipers.

We were expecting to meet him in his camp,

but John Togo is waiting in a clearing at some distance to cover his tracks.

For the camera, he presents a review of two dozen hand-picked men

equipped for the occasion.

If the legend is to be believed,

he lost part of his face during an incident with the JTF.

A nine-millimeter bullet tore off part of his nose.

Calling me a criminal and a pirate?

I'm not like that.

I'm a General Fighter in the Niger Delta struggle.

The amnesty was a dead point.

They said that if I refuse to surrender on October 4th,

they'll come and bomb everywhere.

I know you have to. You want to save your family.

You want your brothers, sisters, father, and mother to be alive.

I'm supposed to go on October 4th and tell them to have this.

Let me live in peace with my people.

Nothing was endorsed in the white paper. These people play with our intelligence.

Isolated in the jungle for the past four months,

he decided to continue the fight against the oil companies

and the Nigerian authorities.

We want to blow up the pipelines.

That's our struggle, in fact.

The export lines are the targets.

The refineries are the targets.

The filling stations are the targets.

That is our war strategy.

I have given an ultimatum to the Nigerian government

and the international companies.

Seven-day ultimatum.

That's security and war strategy.

It is I and my team that know the right time to carry out an action

if there's no good attention.

I'm the only one who installed that.

Nobody knows what I have installed.

Any time, I will blow up.

That is that.

Since our meeting, the ultimatum has expired.

Nothing has exploded,

but the army has lost 18 men in attacks against Togo.

Ignoring the freedom fighter's threats,

the oil companies continue to extend their activities.

On the land of the Ije people, a tribe in the north of the Delta,

Obagi is Total's first onshore exploration site.

In 2011, the company is preparing to celebrate its billionth barrel of oil

after 20 years of extraction.

Still accompanied by Terry Bourgeois,

we head for the gas treatment plant with a wary police escort.

Two hundred armed men protect the site against threats around the clock,

although Total doesn't admit this.

We began our activity here in 66.

With 50 years of shared history, we can't avoid some tension,

but we're beginning to get to know one another.

Why so much security?

Today, we have policies of prevention and protection.

Tensions have developed in Nigeria in recent times.

Not in the immediate environment, but not far away.

In the past few years,

we've worked on a policy of protecting a certain category of personnel.

We don't think we're upsetting the communities,

or the people who live close to our production site, by our behavior.

Through the exchanges we have with them,

we don't get the impression that there's a problem with the measures.

Forgotten then are the inhabitants demonstrations in 2010,

demanding a share of the oil money.

Last November, a confrontation between Ije youths and the army

resulted in two deaths in the community.

In 2004, Total discovered a substantial pocket of gas

in a working oil field.

Today, 3,000 work here.

We're moving from a field that produced 75% crude oil

to a field that will produce 80% gas.

For how much longer?

The production forecast for the reserves still to be produced

indicates 25 years at the moment,

with the hope that the techs under development

will enable us to extend the life of the field

and the ultimate recovery of the reserves.

Growth, turnover, profit, percentages.

The official discourse is obsessional and well-rehearsed.

Outside, pipelines are waiting to be buried.

In a few years, Total's gas will be transported to Brass,

the future gas terminal,

a site of great expectations for the oil companies.

This town in Bayelsa State is the hometown of Timipre Sylva.

The governor comes here regularly.

Private or professional visits

for which the Italian company Agip provides him with a helicopter.

After a 90-minute flight,

we finally reached the extreme south of the Delta.

The Italians are working on the island now,

awaiting the construction of the gas terminal.

The protocol demands the company director greet the governor in person.

Will you stay here tonight?

No, I'll just spend one hour and then I'll be off.

You have to go at five o'clock.

The president is coming tomorrow, so I have to be back.

I'm just coming to see, and then I'll be back in a minute.

I'll be back in a jiffy.

You can see this the end of the world.

You will see the LNG project and it's going very well so far,

although it's taking a long time.

We hear that now they will be able to take the FID soon.

If they take the FID, which is the final investment decision,

then we should see a lot of work going on.

We're hoping that with the Brass LNG, a port will also be built here.

This is going to be the first port in Nigeria

that will open directly to the ocean.

-People there are quite happy, I guess? -Everybody here is very happy.

I'd like you to meet one or two of my people

so that you can talk to them and see for yourself

if they're happy or not.

It's on this site, forbidden to the press,

that the new LNG gas project will see the light of day.

At a cost of some €11 billion, the Nigerian state has 49% of the capital,

with Total, Conoco, and Agip holding 17% each.

A landing stage in Ogbia.

I decide to return to Brass with no protocol

because questions have to be asked.

Is the local population aware of this gigantic project?

How are they experiencing their environment's destruction?

What will the future terminal bring them?

On the landing stage, we have an appointment with Celestin,

a young activist who visits Brass regularly to sound out the locals.

He'll be our guide.

There are crises,

especially when you have oil

in the place,

because one strategy the oil companies adopt here

is to introduce divide and rule in every community.

While the people are quarreling,

they're doing their business, and nobody is asking them anything.

To avoid raising the oil company's suspicions

and the locals' apprehension,

Celestin has not told the villagers we're coming.

Across the river, there's a pipeline.

Very high-pressure pipeline.

Once on land, we decide to visit Iwoama.

The Brass project is causing divisions among the communities of Bayelsa State.

There are those who'll get a slice of the pie and then the rest.

Here in Iwoama, they have sided with the moneymakers

and solid houses are springing up like mushrooms.

Brass LNG.

What do you know about Brass LNG?

It's a federal project on Brass Island.

It wants to locate, establish, invest, and also empower the youth.

Are they informing the community in all the work they are planning to do?

Are they informing the community?

Actually, most of the time,

the community doesn't know what's going on.

They don't know what's going on.

Like we, the Iwoama people, we're suffering.

Fine promises have been made, but they're impossible to verify.

Celestin remains dubious

and attempts to find out more from the community leader.

This is the president of this community.

I'm seeing some beautiful buildings around.

-Are they built by LNG? -No, the government.

No, they're built by Timipre Sylva, the governor of the Bayelsa State.

This is the first time I've seen

that the government is building this kind of structure for people.

People are saying that Timipre Sylva is not doing anything,

but this is something.

What they won't admit is that they've obtained Timipre Sylva's favor

by selling their agricultural land, rich in oil.

A house costing a few hundred euros for land potentially worth millions.

One morning, on the other side of the island,

we reached the village of Okpoama.

Facing the Atlantic Ocean, the villages here have nothing to offer.

No oil, no gas, and no land

which could be useful to the companies and the government.

Okpoama is a different place and a different situation.

See where we're living now.

-The oil-producing communities. -See how we're managing.

-It's not fair. -It's not fair.

It's not fair.

Like in Iwoama, opinions are hesitant

and the fear of the oil companies are apparent.

What'll happen if oil and gas companies are coming here in your community?

We love them.

We'd love to embrace them.

-Are you afraid? -We're afraid.

We're afraid.

Since they don't come to us, we don't know the admission of coming here.

If they come and discuss things in common with us,

then we'll become friends with them.

They've worked and they've not paid.

When they come to work, we'll know that.

When someone is interested in something from you,

you have to show them interest,

but they have not done that, so we are afraid.

They promised that they've not done anything.

It's only a promise.

Okay, they talk about it.

-They don't do anything. -When they have agreed.

What do you hope the LNG will do?

We need roads, water, and all those things,

but they're not doing anything.

I don't know whether the other community…

Considering the fact that we have one in Bonny

and we know what the presence of LNG have done in Bonny

and how they have destroyed things, family life, and everything,

are people in this area afraid that the LNG is coming?

Yes, we're afraid now.

We're really afraid of what's happened.

Nobody enlightened us on what's going on.

Nobody enlightened us.

Suddenly, a disturbance attracts their attention.

We head for the beach.

As we arrive,

we see a 4x4 speeding away in the distance.

Our blue sedan is surrounded by the locals.

Our presence in the village has not gone unnoticed.

Excuse me.

Somebody just told me that Ije people are coming

and the government are coming to seize the camera and arrest all of us.

That we should stop what we're doing.

I don't find that funny.

They have come with threats and vehicles and the first set has come

wanting to force us into the vehicle, and we refused.

They've left and maybe they'll come with reinforcement.

I don't know.

The companies react quickly to the presence of the press.

It's pointless asking any more questions.

We're not welcome here.

If they come, tell them that we left.

Feeling under threat, Celestin decides it's time to leave.

The Hilux Jeep is given to them by the oil company.

Do you mean that the oil company Agip is paying this?

Yes, the oil companies have paid them.

The oil company Agip that is operating here.

The two vehicles that came here belong to Agip.

They will kidnap us and destroy this.

They will destroy your material.

It'll happen and they'll deny

and they'll tell us that we don't take life seriously.

Why didn't we go with a security escort? That's what they'll tell you.

In Nigeria, despite the corruption and the killing,

it's business as usual.

When you fill your tank back in France,

10% of your petrol comes from the Niger Delta.