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Environmental Degradation and Injustice in Akinima Community: Implications for Petroleum Economics, Policy and Governance

Awori Sime Onisobilemen

Abstract

This study examines environmental degradation and environmental injustice in Akinima Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, and evaluates their implications for petroleum economics, policy, and governance. The specific objectives of this study are to (i) determine the extent of and socio-economic effects of the oil-related environmental degradation in Akinima and (ii) identify the governance and policy gaps that sustain the environmental injustice in the petroleum industry in Nigeria. A convergent mixed- methods design was used comprising: household surveys, key informant interviews, field observations, and secondary data sources from the United Nations Environment Programme (2011), NOSDRA (2017), Amnesty International (2015), and peer-reviewed publications. A combination of descriptive statistics and thematic analysis was used. The study found the effects of oil spills, gas flaring, vandalism of pipelines, and poor compliance in the remediation of these phenomena to include the loss of livelihoods, contamination of water, loss of agriculture, and social unrest. The lack of compliance in the regulatory framework, poor enforcement, and ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) accountability worsens the distributive and procedural injustices. The study further found that the environmental degradation in Akinima is a reflection of the failure of governance in the petroleum economy of Nigeria. It is sufficiently sustainable in nitrate pollution and prioritizes revenue generation over the restoration ecology. It is recommended that the governance in petroleum pollution be integrated with the enforcement of ESG in petroleum spill monitoring and be made inclusive of the affected communities, alongside a rapid transition to a more sustainable energy economy. The study enhances knowledge on the combination of the theory of environmental justice and the analysis of petroleum economics governance by providing the first geo-analytical framework for policy restructuring in the oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta.

Keywords

Environmental DegradationEnvironmental InjusticePetroleum GovernanceNiger DeltaEnergy Transition

References

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