Routine environmental pollution, a major source of violence in Niger Delta

The continual environmental pollution of the Niger-Delta states by the oil companies through exploration in the area is a major source for youth violence. At frequent occasions, oil waste minerals or sludge are either buried, burnt or dumped on to escalate over the years and caused damage to the farmlands, fishes, waters and endanger the overall ecosystem without excluding a threat to human health in and around the oil producing communities.

The failure of successive governments to protect the land and people of the Niger Delta from the hazards of hydrocarbon activities such as oil spillages and sea pages, human right violence. Study indicates  that when environmental impact of oil exploration and production occurs, as has become a routine in the Niger Delta, there is usually no attempt to rectify the damages done to the environment, health and social wellbeing of the people and the ecosystem.

          The ravages of erosion are felt in virtually all the oil producing communities in the region, blocked river channels and paved roads. The situation continue to worsen due to incessant abuse of the environment through ecologically unfriendly oil prospecting. This counts another reason for the violence in Niger Delta. In his work ‘Wanted Reparation for Niger Delta’ Onosode said “The Niger Delta is socially, economically and ecologically a disaster zone”. While Kehinde stated that “If farmers engage in continuous battle with oil spills, it is a battle they are likely to win because even with the best pre-eruptive actions spill would occur.