Impacts of oil spillage on the socio-economic dynamics within the kula kingdom in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State

Abstract

This research investigates the socio-economic ramifications engendered by oil spills within the Kula Kingdom, situated in the Akuku-toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. The inquiry employs a dual evaluative approach: (1) qualitative analysis through interviews with 205 families, employing a 50% probability sample, and (2) quantitative assessment utilizing the Hazards and Effects Management Process developed by the SPDC. The findings from both evaluative methodologies converge, indicating a deleterious impact of oil spills on the community. The adverse effects manifest prominently in the depletion of local fauna and the disruption of traditional livelihoods, specifically in fishing, hunting, and sand mining. Proposed remedial measures include compensatory provisions, both in material and monetary forms, targeted at affected occupational groups. Nevertheless, the study underscores the transience of such mitigative efforts, elucidating the complex and enduring challenges posed by oil spillage.