BALOGUN WASIU ABIODUN

History and International Relations

At the History And International Relations department office

Appointment on Visitation important

Topic: Natural Gas And The Quest For Sustainable Development In Nigeria

Description:

This study interrogates the role of natural gas in the quest for sustainable development in Nigeria. As Nigeria's sixth decade post-independence gets underway, the country's energy landscape is being overhauled to meet emerging domestic and external challenges. Renewed focus on natural gas production capacity expansion and transportation infrastructure development justifies a critical evaluation of the vulnerabilities inherent in Nigeria's gas infrastructure and their sustainable development implications. Drawing on extensive literature review, stakeholders perspectives, and official government publications, this study rovides a robust analysis of the intricate dynamics linking natural gas  and Nigeria's sustainable development imperatives. The study examines Nigeria's gas policy reforms and regulations since the nation attained independence in 1960, assess natural gas as engine of economic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria, and discuss a range of threats to the prospects of gas-fired sustainable development agenda. By understanding the intricate relationship between natural gas and sustainable development in Nigeria, stakeholders in the oil and gas industry can develop more effective strategies to mitigate the threats to Nigeria's commitment to harnessing her gas potentials to promote sustainable development and meet her climate change commitments. 

#	Certificate	School	Year
1.	Ph.D (International Relations)	Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom	2018

Russia-Africa Energy Dialogue and the Politics of Diplomacy

Russia-Africa has a rich but chequered history. The two geographical divides maintain diplomatic relations which have evolved through different historical epochs, transitioning from productive bilateral cooperation of the 1960s to active disengagement in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war in the 1990s. The interlude that followed the 30-year period of active Russian engagement in Africa ensured that Kremlin s hitherto entrenched influence in the continent was usurped by the United States and China, with the latter making appreciable inroads in Africa through cash and infrastructure diplomacy embedded in the Belt Road Initiative. If Russia had beaten a retreat from Africa in the last decade of the 20th century, she would have a U-turn from the start of the 21st century. Through summitry diplomacy Russia is now courting African leaders in a renewed partnership, injecting massive capital in accelerated energy infrastructure development, and rolling back years of diplomatic isolationism. But what is the place of energy, especially gas in Russia s African chequered diplomatic history? What strategic calculations drive Russia s gas investments in the continent? Can a coherent strategy be discerned behind this energy push? How is Africa reacting to Russia s energy overtures? What does Russia s energy rapprochement with Africa mean for other super powers in the continent? Using a qualitative research approach, this study seeks a critical contextualisation and ramifications of Russia s gas diplomacy in Africa, within the frame of neo-classical realism, with the discourse on Kremlin s energy investment situated within the realm of Russo-Africa trade and commercial relations. The paper contends that Kremlin has evolved a double-edged, well-coordinated and coherent energy strategy geared towards resuscitating her lost glory and influence in Africa while containing rising influence of US and China in the continent. Russia s Africa gas strategy reinforces conventional foreign policy strategy of Kremlin which weaponises natural resource endowments in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

BALOGUN WASIU is a Lecturer I at the Department of History and International Relations

BALOGUN has a Ph.D in International Relations from Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom