Emergency interventions and the resilience of flood-affected communities: empirical evidence from Nigeria’s Niger Delta Region

The Niger Delta region in Nigeria is one of the world’s largest wetlands and a host to a rich diversity of amphibian species which was investigated. Research studies were undertaken during the wet and dry seasons of the years 2022 and 2023 on three survey sites (each about 90,000m2) selected from each State in which amphibian samplings were conducted. There were a total of 1,647 individuals belonging to 43 species, 10 Genera and 15 Families. In Delta State and Bayelsa State, 42 species (97.7%) and 35 species (81.4%) were recorded respectively. However, more individuals [846(51.4%)] were recorded for Bayelsa State than Delta State [801(48.6%)]. In Delta State, the species with the highest individuals recorded was Hymenochirus sp (7.7%) followed by Amnirana albolabris (5.7%) while the least was Ptychadena retropunctata (0.2%). The highest individuals were recorded for Hymenochirus sp (7.6%) followed by Phrynobatrachus calcaratus (6.4%) while the least were Leptopelis boulengeri, L. modestus and Ptychadena aequiplicata each having 6 (0.7%) individuals in Bayelsa State. In total, Hymenochirus sp and Xenopus sp had the highest individuals recorded in both States combined. Only about 27.9% of species recorded in the Niger Delta were not observed in the Southwestern and Southeastern regions of Nigeria. The amphibian species richness was not statistically different between Delta and Bayelsa States (P=0.74, df=1, F=0.1059). The diversity indices showed that Simpson, Shannon and Margalef indices were higher in Delta state than Bayelsa State respectively (0.9651, 0.9611; 3.518, 3.378 and 6.132, 5.044). Different population of species were observed in various microhabitats based on habitat adaptability. The Niger Delta region is a biome of great amphibian diversity and it is imperative to establish environmental factors that will support the presence of amphibian population and ultimately their conservation. This study has provided important information about some aspects of the diversity and ecology of amphibians in the Niger Delta region and these data would help conservation- oriented bodies to make more informed decisions.

Health insecurity is a major problem affecting the well-being of internally displaced persons in Nigeria. In the Niger Delta region, the situation remains virulent with attendant consequences on the displaced population. This study investigated health insecurity among the internally displaced persons. Data were sourced across three States of the Niger Delta Region, identified among areas with a high rate of internal displacement. Human Security Approach was employed as a theoretical framework. A total of 582 respondents (Bayelsa = 206, Delta = 211, and Rivers = 165) who had been displaced between the year 2012 to 2018 were randomly selected, and a questionnaire was administered. Findings indicated that 51.9% of respondents in Delta state, 50.0% in Rivers state, and 35.7% in Bayelsa state were diagnosed with diseases resulting from flood displacement. The diseases diagnosed were high blood pressure, cholera, hernia, malaria, measles, tuberculosis, and typhoid. While the diagnosis of blood pressure was high in Bayelsa (3.9%) and Delta (3.5%), the diagnosis of cholera was not recorded in Bayelsa and Delta States but Rivers state (3.4%). Those displaced by flood were 0.4 times less likely to experience abnormal health status than those displaced by other causes. The study concluded that displacement has serious implications on the health of internally displaced persons. It, therefore, recommended that medical centres should be cited in displaced camps to cater for the medical needs of the displaced population.

Adaptive capacity is seen in the light of the capabilities of livelihood practitioners to adjust livelihood plans in the face of threats or risks. Since external alteration such as oil pollution causes decline in resources in the Niger Delta region as a result of threats to traditional livelihoods, rural households adopt certain strategies to adapt. The study was conducted in four communities in Bayelsa and Rivers states. They are Oruma and Aguobiri in Bayelsa state; Bille and Bodo in Rivers state. Primary data obtained through interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used for the study. The thrust of the research was to investigate why livelihood adaptive strategies adopted by rural households in the Niger Delta region to cope with the problems of oil pollution induced environmental degradation and livelihood dislocation are unsustainable. Findings revealed that livelihood adaptive capacities are hindered in the rural communities of the Niger Delta region despite the strategies adopted by households to adapt to environmental degradation to increase the generation of income in the form of goods, services and cash. The study identifies the presence of inhibitive factors such as lack of physical capital, gender inequality, poor governance, social and financial capital deficit, insecurity, lack of social and financial assets, low human capital asset , pressure on firewood fetching, etc. Hence the study recommends that the government and other stakeholders should take necessary actions to enhance the capital assets of the rural households to stimulate adaptive capacities that will enhance the sustainability of traditional livelihoods

Nigeria has recently experienced an upsurge of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. This has constituted a major threat to socioeconomic activities in the region particularly Bayelsa State. There is no gainsaying that Crude oil theft in Bayelsa is not just a crime, it is a symptom of broken social contracts. It was against this background that this study employed Merton’s Strain Theory is to assess socio-economic impacts of crude oil theft on Bayelsa State’s Communities. The objectives of the study appraised societal costs of crude oil theft and prospects of curbing crude oil theft in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study engaged mixed methods research approach, administered questionnaires and data sourcing on 371 participants as designed by Taro Yamani sampling technique on estimated population of 2,277,900 in Bayelsa State. Primary data obtained for the study was analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings identified negative societal perceptions of regarding oil theft not only as a socioeconomic coping strategy but also as a better and honourable option than armed robbery, kidnapping, sea pirate, prostitution drug trafficking and cultism which compromised personal security. Findings from the study also revealed that communities have no confidence in sole government security agencies joint task forces that lacks both community and private security surveillance company involvement due to military complicity in oil theft in Bayelsa State. The study concluded that crude oil theft significantly compromised socioeconomic activities in Bayelsa State. The study recommended that all tiers of government SouthSouth Development Commission, Bayelsa State and all LGAs should deepen the deployment of community-based surveillance systems involving locals and private security consultant to detect and report illegal bunkering activities, by Involve host communities in oil pipeline protection through benefit-sharing schemes. The study also recommended that all tiers of government particularly the Bayelsa State government should develop and incentivised alternative livelihood programs in fishing, farming, and small-scale enterprises to disincentivize illegal oil theft.

Nigeria has recently experienced an upsurge of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. This has constituted a major threat to socioeconomic activities in the region particularly Bayelsa State. There is no gainsaying that Crude oil theft in Bayelsa is not just a crime, it is a symptom of broken social contracts. It was against this background that this study employed Merton’s Strain Theory is to assess socio-economic impacts of crude oil theft on Bayelsa State’s Communities. The objectives of the study appraised societal costs of crude oil theft and prospects of curbing crude oil theft in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study engaged mixed methods research approach, administered questionnaires and data sourcing on 371 participants as designed by Taro Yamani sampling technique on estimated population of 2,277,900 in Bayelsa State. Primary data obtained for the study was analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings identified negative societal perceptions of regarding oil theft not only as a socioeconomic coping strategy but also as a better and honourable option than armed robbery, kidnapping, sea pirate, prostitution drug trafficking and cultism which compromised personal security. Findings from the study also revealed that communities have no confidence in sole government security agencies joint task forces that lacks both community and private security surveillance company involvement due to military complicity in oil theft in Bayelsa State. The study concluded that crude oil theft significantly compromised socioeconomic activities in Bayelsa State. The study recommended that all tiers of government SouthSouth Development Commission, Bayelsa State and all LGAs should deepen the deployment of community-based surveillance systems involving locals and private security consultant to detect and report illegal bunkering activities, by Involve host communities in oil pipeline protection through benefit-sharing schemes. The study also recommended that all tiers of government particularly the Bayelsa State government should develop and incentivised alternative livelihood programs in fishing, farming, and small-scale enterprises to disincentivize illegal oil theft.

This research aims to investigate the effects of existing oil and gas energy systems on the sustainable environment of coastal communities in Bayelsa State, focusing on landscape, water quality, air quality, and aquatic ecosystems, as well as assessing the feasibility of renewable energy alternatives. Bayelsa State is one of the areas in the Niger Delta region that has experienced environmental consequences due to oil production operations. The investigation focused on soil fertility, water quality, and the aquatic habitat in the area. It aimed to understand the effects of oil pollution on important indicators and determine potential solutions for recovery following spill incidents. The fertility profile of the study area impacted by the energy system was compared with the areas without energy system influence as one of the bases for evaluation. The study concluded that the study area is heavily polluted due to ongoing activities of the energy systems (oil and gas), impacting negatively on the quality of water resources, soil fertility, air quality, and aquatic ecosystem. Yet, the key to addressing pollution in Bayelsa state coastal communities in the Niger Delta region is through cost-effective and ecofriendly methods such as regulations, technological advancements, cleanup efforts, decarbonization, and protecting unpolluted areas. This will aid in restoring the soil fertility, water quality, and aquatic habitat back to its original ability to support life.

Crude oil theft has become one of the gravest threats to Nigeria’s economic stability and human security, particularly in the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State, often described as the epicenter of Nigeria’s oil wealth, paradoxically suffers some of the worst consequences of this illicit activity. Beyond the staggering revenue losses to the nation, crude oil theft devastates local communities through environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, insecurity, and deepening poverty. These dynamics raise critical questions about how systemic theft of natural resources translates into everyday human insecurity. It was against this background that this study engaged Relative Deprivation Theory to interrogate human security challenges and intervention strategies surrounding crude oil theft in Bayelsa State. The research was conducted through desk review from literatures obtained from official reports of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Official Statements from NNPC, non-serial publications and conferences cited by other references on the subject matter. These were used to generate secondary data on the pattern of crude oil theft between 2016 - 2020, quantity stolen, the cost and benefit of crude oil theft on human security in Bayelsa state. The study revealed while no particular pattern of crude oil theft exists in Bayelsa State, study observed that geographic, socio-political, collusion, economic factors, and opportunities available were responsible for pattern of crude oil theft and its implication in Bayelsa State. Based on these findings, the study concluded that crude oil theft have no particular pattern rather geographic, socio-political, economic and opportunity available are some of the factors responsible for the pattern of crude oil theft. The study recommended that the use of technology should be adopted to monitor crude oil pipelines in Bayelsa State; relationship between multi-national oil companies (MNOC) and host communities should be more cordial; special signature finger printing technologies should be used to identify crude oil from their origin, and that crude oil production should be metered from the point of production to the point of sales.

The present study examined the spatial analysis of the probability and severity of flood events in Rivers and Bayelsa States, Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. Archive data of flood events from NEMA were made use from 2012 to 2018 with a view to computing the trend surface of flood event within this period in the study area. Also, 400 copies of questionnaire were administered to the residents of the study area to elicit information on the flood events in the study locations. Descriptive statistics were applied in the data analysis. Findings showed that that flood height events of 2012 was the highest among the years and the least was in 2018. The trend surface analysis of flood height from 2012 to 2018 revealed that the flood height was reducing at a rate of 0.4714 ft over the period considered for this study and 39.75% of the variation in the flood height could be explained by the different years. However, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Yenagoa LGAs showed the highest prominence in the flood height and the least was found in Sagbama LGA. The probability of flood across the LGA sampled, findings revealed that a very high percentage of respondents in the LGA affirmed that their communities has been flooded each accounting for 100% of the responses obtained from the survey except for 20%, 10%, and 10% of respondents from Abua/Odual, Ahoada, and Ogbia. The study concluded that flood probability and severity in Rivers and Bayelsa States are increasing and there is variation in the prominence of flood height It is thus recommended that should be adequate flood preparedness for the vulnerable and risky public facilities especially educational and health facilities to prevent much loss of facilities and lives; and majority of the residents should be given more orientation programmes on flood preparedness and mitigation measures to always reduce the impact of flooding on the livelihood of individuals and corporate establishments.

The study examined the spatial assessment elevation-based flood risk level of communities and mitigation measures in the wetlands areas of Rivers and Bayelsa States, Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. The study made use of the elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission, flood height and tidal inundation data to determine the flood risk levels of communities in the study location. Similarly, 400 copies of questionnaire were administered to the residents from the wetland communities using random sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. Findings revealed that majority of the coastal region in the study area is generally low lying and highly exposed to flood event. Results also showed that most communities in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas are very highly exposed which included Ahoada, Azagbene, Eben, Kpopkie, Owenegbene, Bisagbene, Ekeni among others while the very risk exposed communities included Okpogo, Ebubu, Aboigbene among other. Findings showed that damage compensation and government relief funds were the major ways used to tackle the negative impact of flood. The popular methods of flood abatement in the study area were restoring meanders in brooks and rivers and coastal wetlands protection. The study concluded that many communities in the coastal parts of Rivers and Bayelsa States in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria are highly prone to flood risk. The study recommended among others that the use of dam for flood abatement and prevention should be adequately established in the study area; and apart from embankment, other flood defense and control measures such as flood barrier, mobile flood wall, coastal sand supply, bypasses to safeguard wetlands, connect rivers to existing lake, dredging rivers, and river bed widening should be adequately put in place to reduce the levels of flood impact in the study area.

The prime aim of this study is to investigate the commitment and business performance of PPPS enterprises in Bayelsa state. To achieve such fit, the study critically looked at the behavioural disposition of host communities, the donor agencies and government towards influencing business performances of PPPs as perceived by people working in 3 case studies of PPP organizations in Bayelsa state. So the study examined the extent of relationship between the enabling PPP laws and business performance of various public private partnerships and the economic growth in Bayelsa state. In addition the study determined the extent of relationship between the political will and climate influences business performance of public private partnerships in Bayelsa state. Thus, a systematic approach of survey research design, quantitative method and a deductive approach were applied. Consequently, the target population of the study comprises 1,417 staff of Bayelsa Palm Ltd (BPL), Bayelsa Farms Ltd (BFL) Odi and Rural Access and Mobility Project (ORAMP) public private partnership enterprises all in Bayelsa state. Our sample size was 312 out of 1,417 using the proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Through the combination of the two methods of questionnaire and interview for data collections, we were able to double check results of the data gathered thus, prevailing over the biases that come with applying just a single method and increasing the validity of the results. Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were applied to test hypotheses with Pearson Chi-Square statistics, z-test statistic and Chi-Square statistics to bring the significant relationship between two variables, this allows degree of freedom, level of significance and to give sufficient validity to the tested hypotheses. The result therefore, shows that indeed there is a significant relationship between enabling PPP laws and business performance of various public private partnerships and the economic growth in Bayelsa state. Also it suggests that both political will and climate has significant influences on business performance of PPP in Bayelsa state. In conclusion, the findings of the study reaffirm the role/magnitude played by PPPs towards influencing economic development in the state and indeed Nigeria. Understandably from the findings of the study, PPPs need to represent a unique domain of inter-personal relations of all stakeholders with an improved financial commitment with utmost level of agreements in pursuant of quality business performance and service delivery. Therefore, in order to capture a sustainable performance of PPPs in accelerating economic growth in Bayelsa State and its environs, it recommends the need for government and its private investors to conduct a proper consultation or carry out need assessment programs of host communities, state or nation before setting up and subsequent implementation of the project. This again will avoid the risk of allocation of financial resources but encourage financial structuring to the right project. Thus, it is expected for current and future PPPs schemes to review or have collective, workable legal frameworks addressing all issues raised by this study, that way PPPs will be utilized and seen as a signpost of economic growth in Bayelsa State. More so, adherence to the recommendations given on this study by government and its partners will of course bring to end of the perceived lackluster and lukewarm approach, performance and implementations of PPP in Bayelsa State. In order words, citizenries will not further see PPP as a conduit pipe to enrich private pocket. Thus, significant improvement will be recorded for PPPs to perform in order to bring sanity, trust of government, BOT and other stakeholders to redirect policies of PPPs as an innovative policy vehicle of economic development geared towards mitigating the lack of efficiency and enthusiasm in the public sector.

Over the years, the problem of environmental pollution has become a serious concern in the Niger Delta region; Nigeria. Although, the Nigerian government has put in place preventive measures such by establishing institutional machineries like the Ministry of Environmental Protection Agency, formally known as the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA); Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and (OSSOPADEC) - Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, among others. These measures aim to ensure a cleaner environment across the country and, most especially, in the coastal regions, however, these efforts may seem insignificant as the rate of pollution in Niger Delta and many other oil-producing regions continues to pose diverse environmental challenges and has devastating impacts. This paper therefore, embarks on an eco-critical reading of Peter Omoko’s Crude Nightmen, to examine the devastating effects that environmental pollution has caused on some social structures in the Niger-Delta region. This paper further examines the effect of environmental pollution on both humans and nature; it also shed light on the play, offering insights into the complexity of socio-environmental conflicts and the resilience of communities in the face f adversity. Adopting qualitative research approach, the paper established that environmental pollution has impacted negatively on the family unit, communal leadership and qualitative education. The paper opined that drama, such as Peter Omoko’s Crude Nightmen, is a powerful play for raising environmental awareness and advocating for ecological justice in such challenging settings as the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Chemical poisoning is a threat to the health of both children and adults in the Niger Delta region. Nevertheless, the study of the prevalence of poisoning has been undermined in Bayelsa state. Chemical poisoning remains an important health concern in Nigeria, especially in the south-south Niger Delta states which are rich in natural fuel. Information on the prevalence in the Niger Delta region is quite scarce, especially in Bayelsa state. The study investigated the risk factors, awareness, and perception of chemical poisoning, and the prevalence among residents of Amassoma and Yenagoa. A descriptive research employed systematic random sampling of 400 residents from Amassoma and Yenagoa from ages 15 years and above, by administering questionnaires and, collecting data. Data were analyzed using SPSS software utilizing ANOVA. The percentage of awareness of chemical poisoning is 28.4% and the majority of the respondents are educated at the tertiary level with a percentage of 51.5%. The female gender was more with a percentage of 51.0%. Among the signs and symptoms of chemical poisoning, nausea or stomach upset has a percentage of 74.6% being the highest percentage, and stomach cramps have a percentage of 72.9% while having a percentage of 56.7%. About 95.5% of respondents concurred to contacting qualified healthcare providers when poisoning is suspected and 93.8% agreed to keep all chemicals out of reach of children as a preventive measure. It can be concluded that the overall prevalence of chemical poisoning is quite low though used intentionally in young adults for suicide. It can also be said that there is proper awareness of the preventive measures for unintentional poisoning.

Background and Objective: Patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) are known to be at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The prevalence and incidence of DM patients with heart diseases is unknown in Yenagoa and its environ of Bayelsa State, Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The study, with the tool of cardiac markers, investigated the incidence of CVD in chronic and non-chronic DM patients and compared the prevalence in both male and female subjects with respect to the duration of illness. The study sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of cardiac markers to evaluate the diabetic subjects and the goals of screening are to improve life expectancy and quality of life by preventing Myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure through the early detection of significant CVD. Study Design and Methods: A total of 356 type 2 DM patients were recruited for the study. They are diabetic patients that presented with symptoms of CVD. They were grouped into 135 DM patients that have suffered the Diabetes for less than 10 years, 119 for 10 - 20 years and 102 for 21 and above years. The plasma levels of the Cardiac Markers, Troponin I (CTnI), Troponin T (cTnT), Creatine Kinase (CK-MB), Myoglobin (MYO) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in the subjects. The method of fluorescence immunoassay (FIA) was used in the measurement of CTn1, CTnT and MYO. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to determine the CK-MB and LDH. Results: Analysis of the results has shown that 14.33% of the studied subjects were diagnosed of various CVD and were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Of these, 8.15% were females and 6.18% were males. 54.90% of DM subjects diagnosed of CVD were from group 21 and above years while 29.41% were from group 10 to 20 years and 15.69% from those that had suffered it for <10 years. 26.12% of the total DM patients studied had either one or more of the cardiac markers elevated, showing the potentials of developing heart diseases. The correlation between the different age groups and the pair wise correlations between measured parameters in the DM patients with CVD showed a positive correlation. Conclusion: The tools of cardiac markers can be used in the diagnosis/assessment of CVD in type 2 DM patients. The risk of developing CVD is more in females than the male subjects that are suffering from type 2 DM and those with long duration of the illness in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta Region, South of Nigeria.

The study was set to examine the temperature trend in Nigeria's Niger Delta region, Nigeria using a descriptive research design. Six (6) States in the Niger Delta Region (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States [BRACED]) were selected for the study. The study utilized the annual temperature data gathered from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) Ts 4.06 at 5o x 5o latitude and longitude grids point. The results show that the Niger Delta region had a temperature of 26.3oC.The outcomes of the Mann-Kendall test revealed that a considerable rising trend exists in temperature in Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta States. The Mann-Kendall test on seasonal temperature showed that a significant rising trend exists in temperature from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November to December. The outcomes of the ANOVA show a significant variation in temperature amongst Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta State as determined by one-way ANOVA (F(5,720) = 530.244, p = .000). Arising from the above, the study recommends that the emission of gas and carbon should be extinguished; trees planting campaigns should be advocated in the Niger Delta Region to reduce the direct effect of the ultra violet sun ray.

This study examined the implications of flooding on the socio-economic status of residents in flood prone areas in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; examine the effects of flooding on the socio-economic variables of the respondents; and identify the approaches to curtail flooding effects in flood prone areas. A multistage sampling technique was employed in the selection of six flood prone communities in Bayelsa State, and 20 respondents were randomly selected from each community given a total of 120 respondents as the sample size. Primary data were sourced through questionnaires. Descriptive statistical tools were used for the analysis. The findings showed that 54.2% of the respondents were between the age range of 31-40 years with a mean age of 32 years; they are gender inexclusive with male having 55.8% and female 44.2%. 54.2% were married, most of them are literate with 41.6%, and 54.2% had household size between the range of 4-6 persons. 50.8%, 39.1% and 33.3% of the respondents agreed that the effect of flooding on income, farmland and food insecurity respectively were very high; Traditional crafts like boat building, houses, business centers, roadsided businesses and pond fishing were high with 38.3%, 32.5%, 33.3%, 43.3% and 31.6% respectively; local industries like alcohol preparation, animal husbandry, training centers, fishery (artisanal), construction works and processing industries were average with 50.8%, 46.7%, 45.5%, 31.6%, 50% and 33.3% respectively; educational institutions, health, water, price of commodities (food produce), local marketing and transportation were very high with 46.7%, 33.3%, 43.3%, 32.5%, 39.4% and 46.7%; implying that their socio-economic variables output will be very low ( an inverse relationship) as a result of flooding effect. Furthermore, the results showed that all respondents agreed with the listed approaches as ways to curtail the effects of flood in flood prone areas, with a criterion mean score of &gt; 2.50. The study concluded that flood have adverse effect on socio-economic variables of the respondents. It was recommended that, building of resilience walls, culverts and drainage channels around the affected communities, land reclamation, elevated foundation of building for residents, government intervention responses plans and standard road network should be provided.