Geo 5.3

Core countries

wealthiest and most developed parts of world economy; high levels of industrialisation, advanced technology, highly skilled workforce, etc. Does the services in tertiary sector; research/development, banking and finance, technology industries, education, etc. Advantages are profits and economic stability

Periphery countries

Less developed countries, often depend on extracting resources as income. Does labour intensive work, in the primary sector; Mining, farming, exporting raw materials, etc. Advantages are low labour costs and resource-rich

What is the chain of resources between core and periphery countries?

Periphery: resource extraction → Semi-periphery: manufacturing → Core: high-value manufacturing and services

Core-periphery model

A model that shows the unequal relations between core and periphery countries. Unequal distribution of wealth/economic power, divides countries between core and periphery and explains why some countries are richer.

History of Nigeria

Was colonised by Britain until 1960, in 1930 oil explorations began by Shell; Discovery of large oil field in Niger delta after WW2

Difference between north & south Nigeria

In the south they were more influenced by British colonialists since there was a spread of Christianity they were more attracted to. The north was less influenced by the British and therefore education levels are poorer and there is more Islam

Niger Delta

main oil-producing region of Nigeria, with 20% of (young) population, mainly fishermen and farmers, main source is timberwood

How did oil exploitation happen in Nigeria?

Other companies also joined, and it was first only extracted in the delta, but after a while they also did offshore oil extractions; done using floating/fixed drilling platforms, on the continental shelf

Continental shelf

Part of continental plate covered by seawater, where sediment layers build up and form oil

How do the cratons influence Nigeria?

It is located between west and central African craton, which is lower located and influences from the sea were common, so there are a lot of oil and gas fields because of dead plants and animals building up in the sediments; heat and pressure changed organic material into oil and natural gas

Why is Nigeria so poor while it is resource rich?

the problem is how country deals with foreign companies; resource curse. Companies are given rights (concessions) to extract resources but money raised does not go to Nigeria, country is selling the rights to their resources and profits go directly to the companies instead of Nigerian government/population

Resource curse

When most of the people in a resource-rich area do not benefit from their resources; caused by how government deals with foreign companies. In Nigeria the foreign companies are given concessions and only the corrupt elite benefit from it

Why is Nigeria a mono-economy?

It is focused on one economic activity, making Nigeria vulnerable; changes in global oil market affect economy and local population immediately

What environmental issues happen as a result of oil extraction?

Drilling activities and construction of oil pipes affect landscape; bad maintenance of pipelines causes cracks leading to oil spills. Criminals tap oil from pipelines or damage them on purpose. There is no money to spend on clean up projects; farmers lose potential viable land

How do concessions affect locals?

It leads to some jobs and foreign investments enter the country, but pollution can damage local livelihoods, profits often leave the area so they do not share oil wealth fairly, fishing and farming can decline

What is evidence of the resource curse in the Niger delta?

Environmental problems, social problems such as poverty and conflicts, and economic problems such as dependence on oil and uneven distribution of wealth

How does the north of Nigeria differ from the south?

The south is more industrialised, with cities and ports, foreign investments and oil locations while the north is less developed and more dependent on agriculture with fewer industries and poverty. This is because the British colonisers were more interested in the resource rich south, so it was more developed and wealthy; more oil and more economic activity

How are the north and south different in terms of geographical aspects of development?

The south is coastal so it has access to ports so there is more room for international trade, and it contains the oil reserves. The north is landlocked and more dependent of agriculture