Oil Exploitation and Challenges of Development in the Niger Delta Region

ABSTRACT This research work is centered on critical analysis of the manner in which oil exploitation is conducted in the Niger Delta Region. It also focuses on how the Niger Delta environment is contaminated via the activities of oil exploitation, thereby leading to abrupt destruction of her natural habitats. As a result, hardship in survival of the inhabitants owing to refusal of the Federal government and Multinational oil companies to embark on drastic human and infrastructural development as an alternative to the bastardized environment in the Niger Delta. The methodological approach to this research work is based on content analysis of literature on available textbooks, journals, magazines, newspapers, internet sources, articles and other unpublished works by professionals. Against this backdrop of the research, we come to bear the fact that oil exploitation in the Niger Delta overtime has been wrongly fashioned and confirms the position of the Niger Deltans been deprived, alienated, marginalized and neglected. Also ascertained was the justification of the crises condition of the people of the Niger Delta as a result of idleness and poverty amidst the oil wealth. Despite the inadequacies in the development relations between the oil Host region and the Federal government/MNOCs, all hopes are not lost. Sustainable development could still be attained in the Niger Delta Region when environmental protection laws alongside favourable oil industry and land tenureship/derivation principles are stringently put in place in the Nigerian polity. Also significant in our findings is the machinery of governance to treat Niger Delta Region issues with probity, accountability and service to the people.