The Impact of Oil Exploration and Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Study of Oil Producing Communities in Akwa Ibom State
This study was designed to investigate the impact of crude oil exploration in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with particular reference to its environmental effect on the six oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom State. This research became necessary because oil exploration and production have gravely injured agricultural produce (aquatic and farm), in the region. Activities such as farming, fishing and hunting have drastically reduced in the region which in the past was the major sources of income and livelihood of the local population. With the increasing soil infertility, health hazard and underdevelopment of the region, the inhabitants of the host communities have been forced to abandon their land and seek for nonexistent alternative means of livelihood. The population of the study consisted of residents in the six oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom State. Data for the study was collected through secondary sources. The result of the data analysis indicated a significant relationship between oil exploration and environmental degradation in Akwa Ibom State. On the basis of this, the following conclusion were drawn: that oil exploration activities in Akwa Ibom State has affected the people and their agricultural production as the people are no longer engaged in their normal farming activities due to soil infertility caused by frequent oil spillage and gas flaring in the region; oil exploration and production affected the people health status and their live span as they directly inhale the poisonous chemicals released into the environment by oil companies through gas flaring and oil spillages; that most environmental laws initiated by the past and present Government has not achieved its set goals and objectives of protecting the Niger Delta environment from pollution and degradation due to corruption, lack of political will and political intrigues due to the fact that most political elite in the country have a stake in the oil industry. Based on the findings.
