Oil of Poverty, Environmental Degradation and Crisis in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The Niger Delta is the oil-rich region of Nigeria and exploration of oil started in the region in 1958.  Oil, although a natural resource, is like a double-edged sword – with the potential to ‘bless’ or ‘curse’ a nation so endowed, depending on its management. Good or bad management of oil resources has developmental implications for the environment, lives, and livelihoods of the people in the oil-producing areas. Studies have documented the negative impact of oil exploration on the Niger Delta region over the years. In response, some steps have been taken by the government to address the situation. Given this, there is a need for present studies to assess the situation.  Therefore, this study investigated the effect of oil exploration on the environment, lives and livelihoods of the people of the Niger Delta region. The study location was Rivers State which was purposely selected among the nine oil-producing states of the Niger Delta region for being the most volatile.  In-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDS) were used to gather qualitative data from participants. In-depth interviews were administered to 9 males and nine females, ages 18 years and above, randomly selected from the most volatile oil communities.  Equally, 6 FGDS were held with two homogeneous groups of males and females, respectively. Each group was comprised of eight participants who were drawn from various segments of the communities - youths, religious leaders, market leaders, family heads, etc.- who were aged 18 years and above. Responses were recorded and later transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded using the NVivo 12 software analytical tool. Coding was done based on predetermined themes deductively drawn from the study aim, including oil exploration and environmental degradation, oil exploration and poverty, and oil exploration and crisis. Findings revealed the negative impact of oil on the environment, lives, and livelihoods. Oil exploration has resulted in environmental degradation such as pollution, contamination of water bodies, loss of aquatic life, and destruction of farmlands. These have resulted in the loss of livelihoods, thus culminating in unemployment and poverty amid enormous oil wealth. Similarly, findings revealed that the inequities created by the mismanagement of oil wealth have resulted in anger, which is expressed through constant conflicts within and between communities, between communities and oil companies, and among armed groups, oil companies, and security forces. The study concludes that the various steps taken by the Nigerian government to make oil resources a ‘blessing’ rather than a ‘curse’ to the Niger Delta region have not yielded the desired result. The study recommends that poverty alleviation and livelihood enhancement infrastructures and programs should be made available to the people by the government and oil companies as a matter of urgency to ease the pains of daily living in the region.