• natural resources management
• stakeholders
• environmental degradation
• conflict management
• economic of conflict
• agitation for resource control

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS - In this study of the economics of conflict, resource control and the agitation for the regional development in the Niger delta we discovered that the root cause of the conflict in the region is due to the federal government gross neglect, exploitation and marginalisation of the region which bring about the emergence for the agitation and struggle for resource control which is seen as the only legitimate means to get the attention of the federal government. The Niger Delt Total states' expenditure (% of total federal expenditure Total states' expenditure (% a people want to control and manage their God-given resources and they want to participate as major stakeholders in every decision making process that involves the control, management and distribution of their resources.
The agitation and struggle by the Niger Delta people for the control of their resources was necessary as a means not only get the attention of the central government but also is a way to show their grievances against the economic deprivation, the neglect and the adverse effect of oil exploitation on their environment and livelihood. The region want the federal government to give them a fair, just and equitable share in the management and control of their resources and to accord them adequate development attention, recognition and participation in the process that involves the control, management and distribution of their resources for the benefits of all.
The Niger Delta youths decided to confront this gross neglect and determine their own destiny after many years of frustration due to unemployment, neglect, poor living condition, marginalization and the exclusion in development programmes of the Niger state in spite of the region resources endowment and contribution to the national treasury. They decided to establish a platform where their voice will be heard which give rise to the struggle and militant agitation because at some point they loosed confidence on the elders and leaders that are in the position to represent their interest and stands in the dialogue with the Nigeria state. The youth and militant in the region see themselves as freedom fighters as they channel their grievance against the injustice, exploitation and economic deprivation melted in the region with the purpose of reversing the trend and compel the federal government to embark on development stride in the region. They are using the agitation and struggle as a means to seek for the development and resource control in the region especially as regards to the youth in the region since it is widely said that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow and to guarantee a better life, a safe and healthy environment and a secure future of every youths in the region.
The conflict that emerged from the agitation and struggle for the resource control no doubt has severe impact not only on the Nigeria economy and its revenue but it impact and effect affected also the communities in the region, the youths, the stability and security, the inter-ethnic and communal relations, the living conditions and livelihood of the Niger delta people. From the analysis we saw that the causes of the struggle, agitation and conflict are the exclusion of the region in the scheme of things that involves in the control, management and distribution, poverty, unemployment, environmental pollution and degradation and gross neglect of the region in the development programmes of the government. Poverty and unemployment breed discontent, frustration and anger. Environmental pollution exacerbated poverty and unemployment. The nature of corporate and state governance particularly in relation to scanty developmental effort, Insensitivity, failure to keep promises and agreements, and military suppression and repression, were seen as catalysing or provoking greater frustration, agitation, conflicts, violence in the region.
CONCLUSION - The conflict started from a peaceful protest and demonstration to get the attention of the central government but escalated to a higher degree due to the consistent neglect and insensitivity to the plights of the Niger delta people by the Nigeria state and the multinational companies and the continuous under-development, environmental pollution and degradation caused by the oil companies, poverty and unemployment. These critical issues breed frustration in the region among the youths which generated to protect and violent conflicts. On the other hand the federal government and multinational companies instead of engaging the youths in meaningful dialogue to hear them out and know the cause of their grievances and to take appropriate measures on how to handle the situation amicably they resorted to the use of force, suppression and oppression by using the police and other security military forces to clap them down unfortunately this approach did not work as they thought rather it escalate the new wave of agitation, struggle and violent conflict. The youth resolve to challenge the state and counter the intimidation in a violent way thereby escalating the tense situation in the region.
The conflict in the region is basically a struggle for resources control and management. The individuals in the region, groups, communities, ethnic groups, and the states in the region, elders, traditional elites, political society and the youths are agitation and struggling to have access and control of the oil resources and its benefits. Resource control has taken different stages and levels with different method of struggling to get the scarce resources. Host communities organize protest and traditional elites induce and manipulate the youth and use them to get benefits from the oil multinationals. Similarly the militias and armed groups uses force to compel benefits from the state and oil companies and also uses forces to appropriate oil resources through oil bunkering , vandalization of oil pipeline, sabotage , theft and the proceed they got from the sales.
RECOMMENDATION - For there to be conflict-free, peaceful and sustainable regional development in region, there is an urgent need to engage all stakeholders and economic agent in the region to take part in the processes that involves the access to, control, management and distribution in the oil resources in the region. The federal government should restrategise the method of conflict management which involve the use of force to repress the protesters from the oil producing communities since this method has not yield any meaningful and effective result in the past rather it has escalated the conflict to a higher level of violent.
Also the oil multinational companies should come up with better ways and means to address the critical issues that their host communities are facing especially the externalities and environment degradation that is usually caused by the oil exploration and exploitation and these measures should be incorporated in their business operations as a core and important issue that needs urgent attention. The prospect for a conflict-free, sustainable peace and development of the region requires a critical policy reorientation. An integrated bottom-up participatory process that secures the quality of life of the people and their psychological health, and simultaneously protects the environment is undoubtedly the path to and productive enterprise in the oil-producing communities. The youths should be motivated and mobilised for public participation and for the political, social and economic empowerment. There should be a political commitment by the federal government and magnate of the oil industry to deliberately reverse the injustice done to the oil-producing areas and put the area back on the road to justice, stability and development.