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Perceptions of Environmental Footprints of Oil and Gas Extraction in Southern Nigeria

Southern Nigeria is the base of Nigeria’s crude oil and gas. The activities of oil and gas (O&G) extraction orchestrated by mainly multinational companies have left most rural communities in the region vulnerable to environmental imbalances. These environmental impacts have resulted in debatable cases of socioeconomic and livelihood issues-particularly agricultural problems and heightened cases of insecurity which have become recurrent topics of national and international debates. This paper evaluates people’s perceptions of the environmental impacts of O&G extraction in Southern Nigeria with a specific focus on the Niger Delta region. The region is adjudged an agrarian society with most of its population almost solely dependent on the natural ecosystem as a source of their economic survival and livelihood. The results indicate that people are significantly different in their perceptions of the impact of the O&G industry based on socioeconomic differences. Yet, there seems to be a widespread dissatisfaction over the negative impacts of O&G extraction compared to its appreciative benefits. The results specifically indicate high vulnerability to the negative environmental impacts of O&G extraction especially among farmers and fishermen in the region. The results thus suggest a wide gap in income inequality which might be due to the high rate of unemployment and loss of livelihood as a result of the various negative impacts of O&G extraction on the environment. Hence, there is a need for improved and sustainable mitigation measures with high priority to empowering the youths, women, farmers, and fishermen who seem to be the most vulnerable groups in the region.