The Niger Delta Agitation for Resource Control: Making Sense of Common Law Private Property Ownership Principles in the Management and Control of Oil Resources in Nigeria

The agitation for resource control in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region has frequently snowballed into violence and militancy. Although the demand borders on transfer of ownership management processes exploitation crude oil found abundantly region, exact parametres are not defined by agitators. This paper examined various variants demanded different groups agitators Delta. It particularly argued that common law private property principles Cuius est solum, eius usque ad coelum et inferos , Quic quid plantatur solo, solo cedit be adopted to natural resources, including indigenous inhabitants rich line with true federalism. recommended restructure Nigerian federal system devolve more powers states repeal certain existing laws inhibit rights people own land resources beneath those lands, which belong them, their ancestors children yet unborn.