Okoi, Ibiang
Unknown Affiliation

Published : 3 Documents Claim Missing Document
Claim Missing Document
Check
Articles

Found 3 Documents
Search

Oil, Law, and Power: The Role of Commercial Legislation in Nigeria's Economic History (1960–2020) Nnebuihe, Linda Iheanacho; Okoi, Ibiang
Jurnal Ilmu Sosiologi Dialektika Kontemporer Vol 13, No 2 (2025): Juli – December 2025
Publisher : dialektika kontemporer

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar

Abstract

This paper examines the complex interplay between oil wealth, commercial legislation, and economic power in Nigeria from 1960 to 2020, tracing how legal frameworks have shaped and been shaped by the country’s petroleum-dominated economy. Through historical and legal analysis, the study explores three distinct phases: the foundational period (1960–1979), which established Nigeria’s oil legal regime; the era of military rule (1980–1999), characterized by the militarization of commercial law; and the democratic period (2000–2020), marked by attempted reforms amid persistent governance challenges. Drawing on primary sources including legislation, court rulings, and oil contracts, as well as secondary literature on political economy, the paper argues that Nigeria’s commercial legislation has served as both an instrument of economic management and a reflection of broader power dynamics. The analysis reveals how oil dependency has distorted legal development, creating a system where laws often prioritize elite interests and foreign corporations over sustainable development. Comparative insights from Norway, Indonesia, and Angola highlight alternative approaches to resource governance, while policy recommendations propose pathways for legal reform. The study contributes to broader debates about law, resource dependence, and economic development in petrostates, offering critical lessons for Nigeria and other resource-rich developing nations.
From International Court to Community Conflict: The Unintended Consequences of the Bakassi Ruling on Inter-Community Relations in the Cross River Estuary Okoi, Ibiang; Okorn, Felix Tabi
Jurnal Ilmu Sosiologi Dialektika Kontemporer Vol 14, No 1 (2026)
Publisher : dialektika kontemporer

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar

Abstract

The 2002 International Court of Justice ruling on the Bakassi Peninsula, which ceded the territory to Cameroon, represents one of the most significant boundary decisions in post-colonial Africa. While extensively analysed for its geopolitical and legal implications, the ruling's unintended consequences on inter-community relations within Nigeria's Cross River estuary remain inadequately examined. This paper argues that the ICJ judgment triggered a cascade of secondary boundary disputes by fundamentally altering Cross River State's coastal status, creating legal ambiguity around maritime boundaries, and generating resource competition that has manifested in renewed tensions between neighbouring communities and states. Drawing on legal geography and borderland studies frameworks, the paper analyses how an international legal decision, designed to resolve a bilateral dispute, has produced complex local consequences including the Cross River-Akwa Ibom offshore oil wells conflict, heightened inter-community competition over fishing grounds and mangrove resources, and internal political fragmentation within affected communities. The research demonstrates that international boundary adjudication cannot be understood as an isolated legal event but must be recognised as a transformative force that reshapes local spatial realities, often in ways that judicial bodies neither anticipate nor address. The findings contribute to broader scholarly conversations about the relationship between international law and local lived experiences, the unintended consequences of boundary-making, and the limitations of state-centric approaches to territorial dispute resolution.
The Efficacy of Joint Border Patrols: Assessing the Impact of the Nigeria-Niger ‘Operation Yaki’ on Cross-Border Crime and Community Relations Okoi, Ibiang
Pinisi Journal of Social Science Vol 4, No 2 (2025): September
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Makassar

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26858/pjss.v4i2.68320

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of ‘Operation Yaki,’ a joint border patrol initiative between Nigeria and Niger, established to combat transborder crime and insecurity in the volatile Sahel region. Set against a backdrop of chronic insecurity characterized by terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and banditry, the operation represents a critical case study in bilateral security cooperation in Africa. The research investigates the operational efficacy of the joint patrols in suppressing cross-border criminal activities and, with equal emphasis, analyzes their multifaceted impact on community-state relations and inter-communal dynamics along the borderlands. Employing a qualitative methodology that synthesizes policy analysis, security reports, and secondary ethnographic accounts, the paper argues that while Operation Yaki has achieved measurable tactical successes in disrupting criminal logistics and enhancing real-time intelligence sharing, its overall strategic impact is significantly mediated by deep-seated socio-political and structural factors. These include the historical legacy of the colonial border, complex ethnic and kinship ties that transcend state boundaries, local community perceptions of state security forces, and the persistent socio-economic drivers of crime. Findings suggest that the operation, though a necessary and innovative response, often functions within a paradigm of securitization that can inadvertently marginalize border communities, potentially fueling resentment and undermining long-term security. The paper concludes that the efficacy of joint border patrols cannot be judged solely on crime statistics but must be evaluated within a holistic framework that considers community engagement, human security, and developmental interventions. It recommends a recalibration of Operation Yaki towards a more integrated, community-sensitive model of border governance that leverages trust, addresses root causes of instability, and aligns with broader regional security architectures like the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the G5 Sahel.