Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Historians have long debated the significance of the trans-saharan trade in the Niger Delta, though interpretations of its long-term consequences continue to evolve.

The years 1960-1999 represent a formative period for understanding the trans-saharan trade in the Niger Delta, one that continues to inform present-day scholarship.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite considerable historical scholarship, the precise role of the trans-saharan trade in the Niger Delta 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 trans-saharan trade in the Niger Delta during 1960-1999.
2. To examine the factors that shaped the trans-saharan trade during this period.
3. To assess the consequences of the trans-saharan trade for the Niger Delta.
4. To situate these findings within the broader historiography of the period.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What role did the trans-saharan trade play in the Niger Delta during 1960-1999?
2. What factors shaped the trans-saharan trade during this period?
3. What were the consequences of the trans-saharan trade for the Niger Delta?
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 trans-saharan trade in the Niger Delta 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 Niger Delta, reflecting a PhD-level scope; developments outside this period and region fall outside its remit.