Impact of Oil and Gas Infrastructure in Bayelsa, Niger Delta

This Chapter begins by examining oil and gas infrastructure insecurity focusing on pipeline vandalism in the case study area of Bayelsa State, and the impact this has on local communities in Niger Delta. It does so by exploring numerous publicly available academic literature which is supported in Chapters 6 and 7 with new transcribed and analysed interview data from key oil and gas stakeholders from local communities and the oil industry. It establishes that despite the different perspectives on the causes of pipeline insecurity problems and strategies deployed by the government and oil and gas firms against vandalism the problem persists. Military deployment, political negotiations, and technological innovations have not provided the desired solution. There has not been a marked increase in the security of personnel and oil and gas infrastructure in the region. It also explores the impact of colonialism and neo-imperialistic interests that fostered raw material exploitation in the Niger Delta area. Critical discourse analysis continues to be used as an analytical tool to explain, interpret and analyse the qualitative literature. While establishing the relationship between text languages and social conflicts. Hence creating deeper insight into the causes of pipeline vandalism and the impact of oil and gas activities on the local communities.