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One is of the $11 billion “Jubilee” oil field - the first ever commercial oil field found in Ghana’s waters, in 2007.
The other is that of the Niger Delta region, where Nigeria’s oil and oil industry are located.
The film explores the appropriation and development of the oil fields, the way in which the discoveries have been turned into a source of wealth for the American companies who monopolise them, and the relationship between them and the countries governments.
It also examines the stark contrast between these rich “big men” and the ordinary Ghanian and Nigerian citizens, who have seen almost no benefits from the oil discoveries.
For the purposes of this article I am focusing on the parts of the documentary relating to Nigeria.
The Oloibiri Well is where oil was first found in Nigeria, in 1956. Since then, the country has become one of the largest African exporters of the substance, supplying the USA with it’s 5th largest amount. However, life for the average Nigerian has actually become much worse during this time. According to the documentary makers, between 1960-1999 Nigerian officials stole or wasted more than $440 billion. And most of the stolen money comes from the oil exports of the Niger Delta region.
Local Nigerian journalist, Patrick Naagbanton, who is interviewed in the film, has the opinion that, “Before the advent of oil there was some type of civility in the Nigerian population. The rapacity we have now started because there is a big gap between those who have access to resources and those who don't. People resort to all sorts of unconventional and savage ways to benefit from the oil. People take for themselves”.
One example of the people he is referring to are the militant groups, who the film follows on their daily journeys. Wearing balaclavas and firing automatic rifles in the air, these militia men zip through the delta in speed boats, sabotaging pipelines and shutting down oil production. At one point they took over a million barrels of light crude oil per day “offline”, dramatically effecting the global market. Every one of the country's oil facilities proved to be within their reach. But this wasn't a case of reckless disruption being caused for the sake of it. These men had a clear objective: to force the government to take notice and “stop cheating the people”.
One of the ‘Deadly Underdogs’ militia tells the film-makers; “In life, whatever thing you are doing, you have to have focus. What we are passing through now, I don't want for our children. We want to leave a legacy. I love my son so much. My dream and my focus is for him to do better. This is why we are in this struggle.”
The General of the group, a man named Ezekiel, informs us that, “Our former governor embezzled 250 million dollars. If you invested that, you would get a lot of development. But look at where people are living”. On saying this, he points to the dilapidated and overcrowded huts lining the banks of the delta, where many people are forced to live.
His view is shared by the King of the region - His Royal Majesty Bini Pere III; “Oil is a way of getting big money. But big money goes to the federal government. Even one millionth of it is not plowed back to the territory where it has been made. What comes out of our land is making other people known as big men”. The audience of local men who he is addressing applaud and nod solemnly in agreement. The film makers pan across their faces. It is clear by their reaction that they know these facts all too well.
Because of this awful inequality, a black market economy has sprung up in Nigeria, with lots of young men making a good income from trading in condensate fuel – a low grade gasoline which is sold illegally with the knowledge and connivance of workers in the oil industry. It is highly flammable and easily explosive and therefore handling it is dangerous. But it is cheaper than regular gasoline. The men wheel it along Refinery Road in big drums, to be bought and sold.
A process called Oil Bunkering also brings in money illegally; this is when pipelines are opened up and the oil extracted. It happens on a major, organised scale, with bribes being paid to police officials and high up members of Government. Oil is tapped into a barge and moved into a waiting oil tanker. The entire process is very expensive to run, but the rewards outweigh the risks.
Other ways to profit include removing sections of pipeline to sell. Some companies reportedly pay local men to cut the pipelines and start fires, which the companies are then awarded lucrative “clean up contracts”.
Ogbonna Nwuke, Commissioner for Information of the Niger Delta Region of the River State Government, acknowledges that “it is the government’s duty to do more for the people”. He feels that “the best way forward is for the stakeholders in the oil industry to do the best they can to provide jobs. That is what our youth need”. When asked about corruption he admits it has been a problem, but is somewhat defensive, saying that it “is everywhere” and “not limited to” their region. At this point in the interview, the camera deliberately zooms in on the gold rings which adorn each of his fingers.
His reply when asked what he is doing about this corruption is forceful. “For all those who want to come through the back door, they better get prepared. We’re going to hunt them. We're going to chase them. And we’re going to drive them out of business. That's a promise. This is a democracy. The best we can do is to persuade people and to operate under the rule of law “. It is clear this answer refers to those profiting on the black market, rather than the government officials and others higher up the chain.
The film ends on a positive note, with the Nigerian government attempting to end militancy and bring more oil back into production, by offering a “cash for guns” amnesty.
Ezekiel, the General of the Deadly Underdogs who we saw earlier in the film, is one of many militia men who takes advantage of the deal - $400 a month, job training and an unconditional pardon. His acceptance of it is on the understanding that that the government will “keep their promise to develop the Niger Delta”.
‘Big Men’ was produced by a group of companies, including the BBC and the Tribeca Film Institute (owned by Robert De Niro).
Brad Pitt was one of it’s Executive Producers. The film was nominated for a host of prestigious awards (including three Emmy’s in 2015.) In 2014, it won the International Green Film Award at the Cinema For Peace Awards. The film has one Producer and three Executive Producers in total, but Brad Pitt is the only one who has his name splashed across the film’s poster.
This shows how important it is to have a star name attached to a project, in order to attract a large audience. Pitt is known to have a specific interest in Africa, and it is encouraging to see him using his influence to shine a global light on African issues. Having the eyes of the world upon them will surely encourage our Leaders (and the companies they do business with) to meet their wider responsibilities - and perhaps to think more carefully when making their next decisions.
Written by Jennifer Menzies for SwaGG News Africa
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| Jennifer Menzies |
Posted by @pocarlee
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