Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

The Niger Delta Question occupies an important place in the historiography of the Middle Belt, shaping the region's political and social trajectory in ways still felt today.

Within the period 1960-1999, the niger delta question took on particular significance in the Middle Belt, reflecting the wider political and economic pressures of the time.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite considerable historical scholarship, the precise role of the niger delta question in the Middle Belt during 1960-1999 remains a subject of ongoing debate, with existing accounts often relying on incomplete or contested source material. This study re-examines the available historical record to offer a clearer account.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To trace the role of the niger delta question in the Middle Belt during 1960-1999.
2. To examine the factors that shaped the niger delta question during this period.
3. To assess the consequences of the niger delta question for the Middle Belt.
4. To situate these findings within the broader historiography of the period.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What role did the niger delta question play in the Middle Belt during 1960-1999?
2. What factors shaped the niger delta question during this period?
3. What were the consequences of the niger delta question for the Middle Belt?
4. How do these findings relate to the broader historiography of the period?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to historians and students of history and international studies, contributing a focused account of the niger delta question in the Middle Belt to the existing historiography, and offering a reference point for future comparative or regional studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited chronologically to 1960-1999 and geographically to the Middle Belt, reflecting a PhD-level scope; developments outside this period and region fall outside its remit.