Some international largest independent oil traders are doing business illegally in Nigeria and this is not only affecting the livelihoods of marginalised communities where these illegal operations are holding but also costing the Nigerian government huge sums in unreturned taxes.
These organisations are generally less visible, making it difficult to track them and hold them accountable, especially for companies that are not publicly listed, and are therefore not bound by the same transparency rules as stock listed companies. Many of these companies often escape scrutiny, and operate ‘behind the scenes’, mostly through joint ventures and partnerships with other companies. These players operate in an unaccountable manner, abuse human rights, partake in illicit financial flows and exploit the fragility phenomenon in many oil producing communities. These players operate in an unaccountable manner, abuse human rights, partake in illicit financial flows and exploit the fragility phenomenon in many oil producing communities.