The Petrol-dollar Economy and the Value Shift among the Youths of the Western Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

The pre-petroleum Niger Delta region was well endowed with enormous natural and cultural resources. However, the advent of the oil industry seems to have affected some changes in the social–cultural structures of this region. Therefore, to determine the impact of the petroleum industry on livelihoods and value orientation, in-depth interview sessions were held with 20 respondents in four communities in the Delta State Nigeria to complement the secondary information collected through documentary method. Consequently, the article argues that the petroleum-led agrarian crisis has created a monetised culture among its youths. This condition has impacted negatively on traditional values, resulting in the socio-cultural quaking of communities in the region. The article therefore suggests a holistic approach that would provide education, cultural reorientation and economic empowerment for the youths.