From oil to water? The deepening crises of primitive accumulation in the waterscapes of Nigeria's Niger Delta

Grundwasserverschmutzung im Nigerdelta (Nigeria) stellt ein komplexes Problem dar. Auf der Grundlage von zwei Jahren ethnographischer Forschung beschreibt der Autor in diesem Beitrag die Verluste für Einzelpersonen und ihre Familienangehörigen, deren Wasserquellen verschmutzt sind. Er argumentiert, dass die Grundwasserverschmutzung eine tödliche, aber wenig diskutierte Form primitiver Akkumulation ist, die starke Auswirkungen auf Frieden und Entwicklung in den betroffenen Gemeinden hat. Der Autor kommt zu dem Schluss, dass Besitzkonzentration durch Enteignung, die direkt oder indirekt auf Ölförderung zurückzuführen ist, Krisen hervorruft. Lösungsvorschläge der Konflikte müssen folglich auch Aspekte von Enteignung anzusprechen, einschließlich solcher, die auf Grundwasserverschmutzung zurückgehen.Using the case of groundwater pollution in Nigeria's Niger Delta, this paper examines the shifting contours of primitive accumulation in the region. Based on two years of ethnographic research, the paper unravels the losses experienced by individuals and their dependents whose privately owned sources of water were polluted. It argues that the groundwater pollution is a deadly but less discussed form of primitive accumulation that has strong implications for peace and development in the affected communities. The paper concludes that accumulation by dispossession driven by oil exploration in the Niger Delta operates in complex ways and generates multifaceted crises; as such, the prospects for resolving the conflicts lie in addressing various strands of the dispossession, including groundwater pollution in the region

SOCIAL MEDIA: SHAPING AND TRANSMITTING POPULAR CULTURE

Communication is the bedrock of any culture. In fact, language, dressing, music, lifestyle, taste, values of life, and whatever that constitutes any given culture are expressed through communication. Accordingly, the media through their several stages of development and transformation have always played the role of transmitting a people‟s cultural heritage across generations and borders. In contemporary society, much of media communication finds expression in various social media platforms. Social media have also become embedded in our everyday lives that they largely fashion our perceptions, understandings, construction of meanings, and general view of reality or the world. It is against this premise that one wonders if social media have maintained this responsibility of shaping and transmitting culture. It became crucial, therefore, to investigate specifically what role social media play in the construction and transmission of popular culture. Evidence from the study sustains the thesis of the Reflective Projective Theory that the media, in this case social media, replicate societal values and norms, yet those societal inputs are defined and shaped by the same media.Key words: Culture, Communication, Social Media, Popular culture, Reflective Projective Theory

SOCIAL MEDIA: SHAPING AND TRANSMITTING POPULAR CULTURE

Communication is the bedrock of any culture. In fact, language, dressing, music, lifestyle, taste, values of life, and whatever that constitutes any given culture are expressed through communication. Accordingly, the media through their several stages of development and transformation have always played the role of transmitting a people‟s cultural heritage across generations and borders. In contemporary society, much of media communication finds expression in various social media platforms. Social media have also become embedded in our everyday lives that they largely fashion our perceptions, understandings, construction of meanings, and general view of reality or the world. It is against this premise that one wonders if social media have maintained this responsibility of shaping and transmitting culture. It became crucial, therefore, to investigate specifically what role social media play in the construction and transmission of popular culture. Evidence from the study sustains the thesis of the Reflective Projective Theory that the media, in this case social media, replicate societal values and norms, yet those societal inputs are defined and shaped by the same media.Key words: Culture, Communication, Social Media, Popular culture, Reflective Projective Theory

Vom Öl zum Wasser? Die sich verstärkende Krise des Grundwassers im Nigerdelta

Using the case of groundwater pollution in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, this paper examines the shifting contours of primitive accumulation in the region. Based on two years of ethnographic research, the paper unravels the losses experienced by individuals and their dependents whose privately owned sources of water were polluted. It argues that the groundwater pollution is a deadly but less discussed form of primitive accumulation that has strong implications for peace and development in the affected communities. The paper concludes that accumulation by dispossession driven by oil exploration in the Niger Delta operates in complex ways and generates multifaceted crises; as such, the prospects for resolving the conflicts lie in addressing various strands of the dispossession, including groundwater pollution in the region.Grundwasserverschmutzung im Nigerdelta (Nigeria) stellt ein komplexes Problem dar. Auf der Grundlage von zwei Jahren ethnographischer Forschung beschreibt der Autor in diesem Beitrag die Verluste für Einzelpersonen und ihre Familienangehörigen, deren Wasserquellen verschmutzt sind. Er argumentiert, dass die Grundwasserverschmutzung eine tödliche, aber wenig diskutierte Form primitiver Akkumulation ist, die starke Auswirkungen auf Frieden und Entwicklung in den betroffenen Gemeinden hat. Der Autor kommt zu dem Schluss, dass Besitzkonzentration durch Enteignung, die direkt oder indirekt auf Ölförderung zurückzuführen ist, Krisen hervorruft. Lösungsvorschläge der Konflikte müssen folglich auch Aspekte von Enteignung anzusprechen, einschließlich solcher, die auf Grundwasserverschmutzung zurückgehen

Vom Öl zum Wasser? Die sich verstärkende Krise des Grundwassers im Nigerdelta

Using the case of groundwater pollution in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, this paper examines the shifting contours of primitive accumulation in the region. Based on two years of ethnographic research, the paper unravels the losses experienced by individuals and their dependents whose privately owned sources of water were polluted. It argues that the groundwater pollution is a deadly but less discussed form of primitive accumulation that has strong implications for peace and development in the affected communities. The paper concludes that accumulation by dispossession driven by oil exploration in the Niger Delta operates in complex ways and generates multifaceted crises; as such, the prospects for resolving the conflicts lie in addressing various strands of the dispossession, including groundwater pollution in the region.Grundwasserverschmutzung im Nigerdelta (Nigeria) stellt ein komplexes Problem dar. Auf der Grundlage von zwei Jahren ethnographischer Forschung beschreibt der Autor in diesem Beitrag die Verluste für Einzelpersonen und ihre Familienangehörigen, deren Wasserquellen verschmutzt sind. Er argumentiert, dass die Grundwasserverschmutzung eine tödliche, aber wenig diskutierte Form primitiver Akkumulation ist, die starke Auswirkungen auf Frieden und Entwicklung in den betroffenen Gemeinden hat. Der Autor kommt zu dem Schluss, dass Besitzkonzentration durch Enteignung, die direkt oder indirekt auf Ölförderung zurückzuführen ist, Krisen hervorruft. Lösungsvorschläge der Konflikte müssen folglich auch Aspekte von Enteignung anzusprechen, einschließlich solcher, die auf Grundwasserverschmutzung zurückgehen

Exploring the Political Economy of Water and Food Security Nexus in BRICS

Access to water and food remains critical to the survival and stability of any nation. Insecurity of food and unequal distribution of water rights are active drivers of instability and violent conflicts. These crises are no less evident in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Studies addressing the crises in BRICS are localised, making the articulation of water and food policy for BRICS as a body a necessity. This paper therefore undertakes a review of the political economy of the water and food security nexus in BRICS. In doing so, the paper identifies areas of cooperation and collaboration, such as virtual water importation and reduction of the water footprint, among BRICS. The paper also offers policy options in the context of the BRICS long-term strategy

Developing an mHealth Intervention to Reduce COVID-19–Associated Psychological Distress Among Health Care Workers in Nigeria: Protocol for a Design and Feasibility Study

BackgroundGlobally, COVID-19–related psychological distress is seriously eroding health care workers’ mental health and well-being, especially in low-income countries like Nigeria. The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions is now increasingly recognized as an innovative approach that may improve mental health and well-being. This project aims to develop an mHealth psychological intervention (mPsyI) to reduce COVID-19–related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. ObjectiveOur objective is to present a study protocol to determine the level of COVID-19–related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria; explore health care workers’ experience of COVID-19–related psychological distress; develop and pilot test mPsyI to reduce this distress; and assess the feasibility of this intervention (such as usability, engagement, and satisfaction). MethodsA mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods approach is used in which health care workers will be recruited from 2 tertiary health care facilities in southwest Nigeria. The study is divided into 4 phases based on the study objectives. Phase 1 involves a quantitative survey to assess the type and levels of psychosocial distress. Phase 2 collects qualitative data on psychosocial distress among health care workers. Phase 3 involves development of the mHealth-based psychological intervention, and phase 4 is a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. ResultsThis study was funded in November 2020 by the Global Effort on COVID-19 Health Research, and collection of preliminary baseline data started in July 2021. ConclusionsThis is the first study to report the development of an mHealth-based intervention to reduce COVID-19–related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Using a mixed methods design in this study can potentially facilitate the adaptation of an evidence-based treatment method that is culturally sensitive and cost-effective for the management of COVID-19–related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/3617

Technological Capability of Local Fabricators in Fabrication of Equipment for Special Palm Oil in Nigeria

This study assessed some fabricators’ technical knowhow in the production or fabrication of machines used for the production of Special Palm Oil (SPO). The study also examined facilities possessed by the fabricators   with the aim to providing intervention that would abridge the widening demand gap between the demand and supply of SPO for domestic and industrial applications. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 98 fabricators as respondents across four geopolitical zones where palm oil is produced in Nigeria.  A well-structured questionnaire and an observant check list were used to collect data relevant to the objectives of the study from the respondents. The collected data were collated with Epidata application and analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics  such as  frequency distribution and mean were used to summarised the data while inferential statistics such as  Chi-Square  and  multiple regression were used to make deductions. Findings of the study showed that   majority  of the respondents were  within the age of  bracket of 40 and 49  and had West African Examination Certificate or its equivalent as major educational qualification./ Average income generated per year based on their primary occupation and other occupation were ₦300,000 and ₦275,,000  respectively. There was a great significant relationship between membership of organization and the information received at p = 0.05 probability level. Majority of the respondents said they learned the art of fabrication informally from someone. They had limited and dysfunction number pieces of equipment for bending, rolling and lathing, which hindered, the fabrication of machines involved in the production of special palm oil (SPO)