Oil Exploration and the Challenges of Food Security: A Reflection on the Indigenous Minorities of the Niger Delta
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v2i10.217Keywords:
Niger Delta, Oil exploration, Environmental degradation, Food security, Indigenous minorityAbstract
The paper examines oil exploration and the challenges of food security in the Niger Delta. Oil exploratory activities inevitably upturn the balance of the earth crust and degrade the larger environment through the dumping of harmful wastes, gas flaring and intermittent oil spillage. The paper maintains that the indigenous minorities have been particularly badly hit since most of their economic activities tied to the environment are either disrupted or destroyed. The hitherto fertile farmlands have regressively lost fertility. The rivers are without fishes and the forests without animals. This no doubt, has adverse implication for food security. Environmental degradation and its attendant problem of food insecurity are exacerbated by lopsided and impotent environmental policies that are formulated by the Nigerian state. Based on the above, the paper recommends among others, that the Nigerian state should as a matter of necessity, develop environmental regulatory framework that can guarantee steady oil production with minimal adverse environmental impact on the prevailing food chain of the indigenous minorities in the Niger Delta.
References
Adriano, D.C. (1986). Trace elements in terrestrial environment. New York: Springer – Corlaug Inc.
Agulanna. M.U. & Snowman, S.S. (2009). Food security in our society. Journal of Population and Food Security. 4 (2): 17-27.
Alagoa, E.J (1972). A history of the Niger Delta. Ibadan: University Press.
Alakpodia, I.J. (1980). Effects of gas flaring on the micro-climate and adjacent vegetation in Isoko Area of Bendel State. An Unpublished M.Sc Thesis University of Ibadan.
Asthana, D.K & Asthana, M. (2003). Environment: Problems and solutions. New Delhi: Schand & Company Ltd.
Boele, R. (1995) Report of the UNPO mission to investigate the situation of the Ogoni of Nigeria. February 17-26. Hague: UNPO.
Canter, L.W (1977). Environmental impact assessment. New York: McGraw Hills Books
Chanlett, E.T (1973). Environmental protection. New York: McGraw Hills Books.
Derri DK & Abila, S.E. (2009). A critical examination of the national environmental standards and regulations enforcement agency (Establishment Act 2007 in Emiri & Deinduomo (Eds) Law and petroleum industry in Nigeria: Current challenges. Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.
Durotoye, B. (2000). Geo-environment constraints in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria in Akinjide (ed) Environmental problems of the Niger Delta. Lagos: Fredrick Ebert Foundation.
Eboe, H. (1985). Oil companies and environmental pollution in Ake C (Ed) Political economy of Nigeria. London: Longman.
Egbuche, U. (1998). Multinational corporations and social responsibility. The Guardian 26 July.
FAO (2001). Handbook for defining and setting up food security information and early warning system. Rome: Italy.
Ighodalo, A. (2005). Oil pollution and environmental conflict in the Niger Delta region: A framework for conflict management in Saliu (Ed) Democracy and development in Nigeria: Economic and environmental issues. Ilorin: Concept Publication.
Ikhariale, M. (1989). The Koko incident: The environment and the law in Folarin (Ed) The Law and the Environment in Nigeria. Ibadan: Vintage Press.
Isichei, A.O. & Sanford W.W. (1976). The effect of gas flares on the surrounding vegetation in South Easter Nigeria. Journal of Applied Ecology 13(4): 31-38.
Jike, V.T. (2002). Environment degradation and social disequilibrium in the Niger Delta. Knowledge Review 5 (6): 14-27.
Jike, V.T (2004). Environment degradation and social disequilibrium and the dilemma of sustainable development in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Journal of Black Studies 33 (10): 31-38.
Jike, V.T & Ogege. S.O. (2005). Ojaide’s vituperations on environmental disequilibrium in the Niger Delta being a paper presented at Ojaide International Conference held in Delta State University, Abraka 7th – 10th July.
Kormondy, E.J. (1991). Concepts of Ecology. New Delhi: Prentice Hall.
Ofuoku, FPE (2012). The socio-economic implication of gas flaring in Ebedei community in Delta State. An unpublished M.Sc. Dissertation in the Department of Sociology, Delta State University, Abraka
Ogege, S.O. (2007). Contradictions of democratic governance and its implications for sustainable development in the Niger Delta. Nigerian Sociological Review 2 (1): 65-73.
Ogege, S.O. (2010). A study of the relationship between multinational oil companies and host communities in Delta State. An unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation in the Department of Sociology Delta State University, Abraka.
Okaba, B. (2004). Oil exploration and the challenges of sustainable rural development. Benin: Al International Publishing Co.
Okunola, R. (1996). Environmental management and corporate responsibility in Nigeria. Oil and Gas Monthly August Edition 7-9.
Olisa, M.M (1981). Legal framework for pollution control in the petroleum industry and the Nigerian environment. Lagos: NNPC.
Olokesusi, E. (1992). Environmental impact assessment in Nigeria: Current situation and direction for the future. Journal of Environmental Management 6 (1): 31-39.
Omoregbe, Y. (2000). Oil and Gas Laws in Nigeria. Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.
Omoweh, D. (1998). Political economy of the operations of shell development company in Oloibiri area of Nigeria. Germany: Stuttgart Press.
Omoweh, D. (2005). Shell petroleum development company the state and underdevelopment of Nigeria’s Niger Delta: A study in environmental degradation Eritrea: Africa World Press.
Onosode, G. (2000). Environmental management and sustainable development in the Niger Delta in Akinjide (Ed) Environmental problems of the Niger Delta. Lagos: Fredrich Ebert Foundation.
Osuno, B.A. (1981). Development and implementation of regulation to control petroleum related pollution in Nigeria in petroleum industry and the Nigerian environment. Lagos: NNPC.
Paterson, G.B (1986). Energy policy and oil exploration in Nigeria. Ibadan: Heinemann.
Shyllon, F. (1989). The law and the environment in Nigeria. Ibadan: Vintage Publishers.
Ukaegbu, O.D. & Okeke, A.O (1987). Flaring of associated gas in the oil industry: Impact on growth productivity and yield of selected crops in the petroleum industry and the Nigerian environment. Lagos: NNPC.
UNEP (2002). African environment outlook: Past, present and future prospects. UNEP: Nairobi.
Wilcox, I.R (2013). A review of the environmental effect of non-renewable resources in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review 4(2): 255-262.
World Bank (2005). Poverty and hunger: Issues and options for food security in developing countries. Washington D.C: World Bank.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
