Abstract
This research work was conducted to investigate the impact of the oil industry on
the economic growth performance of Nigeria. In the process of the research, the
ordinary least square (OLS) regression technique was employed. Considering the
impact of time on changes in economic variables, the analysis was carried out
using the simple regression method in which Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
proxy for economic growth was used as the dependent variable, while the oil
Revenue (OREV) and time appeared as repressor’s. A two-tailed test of 5%
significant levels were conducted indicating that the two explanatory variables did
not have any significant impact on growth performance of the Nigerian economy
within the same period. The researcher therefore recommends that government
should formulate appropriate policy mix that would motivate the firm in the oil
sector to enhance improved performance and contribution of the sector.
1.1 THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The economy is the backbone of any nation. Nigeria, like other development
countries of the world is paying more attention on how to accelerate the rate of
development through the various sections of the economy.
Oil, a very versatile and flexible non-productive, depleting, natural
(hydrocarbon) resource is a fundamental input to modern economic activities
providing about 50% of the total energy demanded in the world excluding the
former centrally planned economy. Oil exploiting countries of the world depend
heavily on oil revenue for foreign exchange earnings and for the government
budget, in most cases, reaching 90% or above.
Petroleum or crude oil is an oily bituminous liquid, consisting of a mixture
of many substances mainly the elementsof carbon and hydrogen, and thus known
as hydrocarbon. It also contains a very small amount of non-hydrocarbon element,
chief amongst which are sulphur, nitrogen, and oxygen. Petroleum industry covers
the exploration and production of crude oil as well as petroleum refining,
marketing and servicing. Specific policy objectives with respect to petroleum and
mining can be summed up us follows. Active government participation in mining
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operations, diversification of mineral products, the organization and regulation of
the development of mineral resource so as to optimize their contribution to the
overall national development effort, the conservation of the countries mineral
resources, research into efficient extraction methods and wider application and use
of mineral manpower development of internal self sufficiency in the supply and
effective distribution of petrol industry products, commercialization of gas and the
control of the environmental problems of oil production (Obudun 1987).
Though oil did not assume its present significant position in the natural
economy until the early 1970s, it is not a novel revelation that it has since become
the mainstay of contemporary Nigerian economy. Petroleum either as petrol,
diesel,fuel, oil, lubricant or petro-chemical makes Nigeria’s economy wheel go
round.
Petroleum has transformed poor nations into rich ones desert into watersheds
and bankrupt nations into creditors. Specifically, with respect to Nigeria, there is
no gain saying that the oil sector has undergone tremendous transformation over
the years. (Anyanwa, et al 1997).
The industry has emerged from being merely the “supportive” economic
sector it was in the 1960’s to the predominant source of foreign exchange and
most viable access to international investment opportunities in the 80’s and 90’s,
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no other resources in Nigeria has played such a towering role over the national
economy as crude oil. The government of Nigeria has used the revenue derived
from oil through tax and royalties to carry out development projects in the country
(Iyohu 2000).
This study therefore, aims to illustrate clearly the impact of oil industry on
economic growth performance in Nigeria.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The over – dependence on oil has created vulnerability to the vagaries in the
progressing section that shows the contribution of oil to some macroeconomic
variables. In particular, the lace of oil in the psyche of the average Nigerian oil
industry in 2003. The contradiction is more external earning for Nigeria, and also
increased tax burden on imported refined petroleum products.
Some scholars have advocated for the shifting of emphasis from the oil
industry to other sectors owing to their belief in the negative fallouts of the oil
industry; some others opined that the sectors should be promoted and developed
for its benefits. These opposing views have created the problem of acceptance or
otherwise of the oil industry in Nigeria.
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In view of the controversy with respect to the relative contribution of the oil
sector compared with other sectors, it is imperative to establish empirically the
relative impact of the oil industry in the Nigeria economy.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
With the development of petroleum in the Nigerian economy, there has been
a growing interest and concern towards its contributions to the economy and
economic growth. By the end of the research the study aims at achieving the
following objectives.
? To find out the impact of oil revenue (oil sector) on gross domestic product
(GDP).
? To find the relationship between oil revenue and economic growth.
1.4 STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS
The following hypothesis will be tested in this study:
Ho: Oil has no effect on the economic growth in Nigeria
H1: Oil has a significant effect on the economic growth in Nigeria
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1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will be beneficial to the following:
? It will be relevant to oil companies operating in Nigeria in many of their
operational and investment decisions.
? It will equally, serve as a source of information for the policy makers and
stakeholders in the industry.
? It will also guide the government and its agencies in regulating the industry.
? It will serve as a source of information (data) to students in their field of study.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This research work is an investigation into the impact of oil industry on economic
growth in Nigeria (1980-2010).
In carrying out this research work, the researcher encounted some
difficulties. The first of such constraints or difficulties concerns data collection
from different sources. Also was the reluctance of some library or Liberians to
make data available.
Apart from the above mentioned constraints, which are capable of adversely
affecting the accuracy of the results of this research work, all other errors and
omissions are entirely those of the researcher.