The political-economy of oil exploration and environmental degradation in the South-South: Paradoxis of poverty and endowment
Author(s): Musa Yusuf Yahaya
Abstract: As a gift of nature, natural resources are universally but not uniformly distributed across continent and regions of the world. This is the same with resource distribution within a given state. In Nigeria oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Oloibiri town in 1956. This made the Niger- Delta region an oil rich area of the larger Nigerian society. However oil extraction did not start until 1958 and since then exploration and exploitation has continued leading to environmental degradation due to less concern, neglect and disrespect of international law on environment by the major oil exploiters. The main thrust of this paper is to examine the activities of MNCs in the oil sector in Niger-Delta and it effect on the environment, poverty and food production. The paper used ecological theory to explain how MNCs devastate the environment in the South-South geopolitical zone. This paper is a conceptual one that relied heavily on qualitative approach. The paper concludes that the impact of petro-development on the land in Niger-Delta has given rise to sudden fall in agriculture and oil spillage affect the health of the locals this makes life vulnerable and unbearable for the people. The paper concludes also that the problem can be solved if there is sincerity of purpose by the government but because of corruption and politics of impunity the issue is always deteriorating and despite government initiatives produces little result. The paper established a thesis that the oil is a curse for the local communities in the region and a blessing to the MNCs and the government of Nigeria at large because it accounts for its major foreign exchange earnings.
Musa Yusuf Yahaya. The political-economy of oil exploration and environmental degradation in the South-South: Paradoxis of poverty and endowment. Int J Political Sci Governance 2020;2(1):75-79. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2020.v2.i1b.35
