Oil and Human Security Challenges in the Nigeria’s Niger Delta

Abstract

The study utilized primary and secondary data to examine the oil-induced human security challenges in the Niger Delta; evaluate the role of the Nigerian Government, oil multinationals and some non-state actors towards human security in the Niger Delta; and analyse the implications of oil-induced human security challenges in the Niger Delta. These were with a view to determining the negative challenges of oil exploitation on human security in the Niger Delta region vis-à-vis human development and peace. The study then revealed that oil-induced human security challenges in the Niger Delta region were visible in the areas of water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, food insecurity, poverty, conflict and unemployment. The study also showed that the responses to human security challenges in the region by the government, oil companies, the oil-producing communities and international partners had brought appreciable development and peace to the region. However, these were marred by corruption, insincerity, hypocrisy and selfish interest by some stakeholders in the region. The study further identified the implications of oil-induced human security challenges in the region to include vandalism of oil installation, oil theft, kidnapping, sea piracy, food crisis, outbreak of diseases, famine and hunger. It then concluded that oil exploitation has had a negative impact on human security in the Niger Delta region, and this has equally undermined human development and peace in the region.