Nigerians queue up for expensive fuel, despite the thousands of gallons that lie beneath their feet. This is a reality that many Nigerians have come to expect, turning more often than not to religion for answers. It is a country that "straddles a great and ancient divide". Northern Nigeria is a vision of Islamic civilisation. In ornate robes the Muslim faithful bow to Emirs, figures who held historic power. Since independence this educated northern elite have kept a stranglehold on power as successive corrupt military governments have plundered the Christian south of its oil riches. Now chronically under-developed, the Delta region is on the brink of collapse. Oil companies have caused devastating pollution in the area, killing fish in the rivers, making the land infertile, and spreading disease. "They're waging a violent and vicious ecological war on our people. They want us to die that is that is the basis," says local activist Oronto Douglas. But people are fighting back, with locals turning off the oil at pumping stations. Ollesegun Obassanjo, a former military leader turned President, can no longer keep a lid on the south's problems with brute force. His civilian government will need more than a change of uniform to bring Nigeria back from the brink.

Produced by ABC Australia