Assessing the Socioeconomic Impacts Arising from Oil Pollutions in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: Including Proposals for Solution

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic impacts arising from the oil pollutions in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, including a possible solution. Nigeria is a developing country with inherent government failures in legal enforcement, and petroleum companies are unable to comply with pertinent petroleum-related legislation. The study target oil spillage and gas flaring as the principal petroleum-related pollutions, and conducts a field study to determine the pollution impacts on the physical environment. The field study covered two oil and gas-hosting communities and the effects of gas flaring and oil spillage were studied and analysed. Farming and fishery are the main sources of livelihood in the study areas, likewise other oil and gas-hosting communities in the Niger Delta, and impacts on farming and fishery will impact on their livelihood.

The study is multidimensional and therefore leans on scientific, law and social methods to prove to achieve its aim and objectives. It is necessary to investigate through laboratory experiments on how pollutions affect the physical environment before resulting to socioeconomic impacts. The laboratory experiments are justified because they are the only scientific method to know how the pollutions impact on the soil, water and air, which negatively affect agriculture and fishery, and thereby causing socioeconomic impacts. The study in addition conducts a secondary method of data collection through questionnaire technique to sample the opinions of the oil-bearing communities. Both the primary and the secondary data are presented in chapter three and research findings in chapter four. The study presents a legal argument (chapter 4.3.1) to attest community perceptions and claims. The major conclusions are firstly that oil-related environmental problems have socioeconomic impacts. Secondly, that solution can be sought through adequate regulatory measures, such as establishing an independent mediating institution, such as an environmental ombudsman, and creating a specialized environmental court or other adjudications.