Politics of Energy Exploitation and Environmental Degradation in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria

Idiege Da

doi:10.4172/2375-4397.1000191

Abstract

This paper attempts to x-ray some of the possible consequences of oil spills, bunkering activities, drilling mud, pipeline vandalization and militancy on the ecological resources of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria due to the roles some political agents such as the government, the multi-national oil companies and the pro-environmental groups are playing in the exploitation of petroleum and gas resources in Nigeria. Possible suggestions as a way forward to environmental degradation in the Niger Delta Region were suggested. These include the provision of an adequate institutional framework, proper Environmental Impacts Assessment/Social Impact Assessment, before any developmental project can be carried out. Detail environmental audit, monitoring as well as adhering to the world environmental standard would save the region from the danger of environmental degradation.

Highlights

The present state of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria can be likened to that of a sick patient who is at a state of terminal point
The first commercial oil well was discovered in 1956 at Oloibiri in present Ogbia local government of Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region (Figure 1). This discovery opened up the oil industry in 1961 in Nigeria, bringing more oil firms like the Agip, Mobil, Safrap ( Elf), Texaco and Cheveron to petroleum prospecting both in on shore/offshore areas of Nigeria [1]
The emergence of oil industry did undetermine the Agricultural sector which was the mainstay of the local economy and create serious environmental hazards for the people through exploration, exploitation and transportation of oil and gas; it created serious value problem as the hitherto cherished traditional value-system were weakened by the emergence of the petrodollar related behavior

Summary

Introduction

The present state of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria can be likened to that of a sick patient who is at a state of terminal point His situation according to medical parlance has become critical. The Niger Delta environment is not developed to further sustain the people after the destruction of the ecosystem that had kept the people together The height of it is that the environmental degradation continuously occur through oil exploration activities such as gas flaring, oil spills, canalization to oil fields, seismic explosives detonation etc. Thereby creating artificial challenges to development but the region is not considered for holistic development, rather the concepts of wider, national and internal power struggle to control meager funds for the development of the Niger Delta are always been politicized It is the dynamics of this interconnectedness and probable solutions to the problems causing the challenges of development despite the huge oil revenue from the area; that this research is intending to explore. The oil exploitation in the Niger Delta has not translated to improvement in infrastructural facilities

Study area

Oil exploration and the resultant effects on the environment

Oil spillage

Findings

Oil host communities and infrastructural neglect