Environmental Issues and Activism in the Niger Delta

ThankGod F LillyInia; PhD; Chimezie Chukwuemeka Eze

doi:10.56201/ijssmr.vol.11no10.2025.pg204.213

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Environmental Issues and Activism in the Niger Delta

ThankGod F LillyInia, PhD, Chimezie Chukwuemeka Eze

Abstract

The study investigated environmental issues and activism in the Niger Delta region. The problem associated with the people of the Niger Delta includes environmental degradation, neglect, pollution (land, air and water) due to oil and gas exploration and production, poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, flood and erosion, ecological damage and disaster among others. These problems are connected to the activity of oil exploration in the region. The objectives of the study were; provide a historical overview of oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta region; and examine the history of activism in Niger Delta region. The theoretical framework adopted for this study was the Social Movement Theory (SMT) propounded by Charles Tilly, Sidney Tarrow, Doug McAdam and Alberto Melucci. Secondary source of data was utilise for the study; it involves the collection of data from textbooks, journals and seminar papers among others. The study found that people of the Niger Delta region suffer from the issue of environmental degradation, pollution, gas flaring and the destruction of the natural environment due to the activities of oil exploration. The study therefore recommends the adoption of environmental protection policies to protect the delicate ecosystem of the Niger Delta. These policies should include regulations on oil exploration and production activities to minimise their adverse effects on the environment.

Keywords

Environment; Niger Delta; Pollution; Exploration; Activism

References

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Environmental Issues and Activism in the Niger Delta

Abstract

Keywords

References

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