FACTORS THAT INHIBIT THE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS TO OIL POLLUTION IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION, NIGERIA

Abstract

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