Proceedings of the 2nd (Hybrid) International Conference, Faculty of Social Sciences, Niger Delta University, Held on March 13, 2024
March, 2024
Pages 329-348
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/ConfP.2024.019
ENVIRONMENTAL INSECURITY AND MIGRATORY PATTERNS IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA
Stanley Ebitare Boroh
Abstract
The Niger Delta region is known to be disproportionately impacted by environmental insecurities when compared to other parts of Nigeria. While a plethora of studies have traced environmental insecurities in the region to pollution arising from oil and gas exploration, it remains unclear how this problem has led to population displacements and human migration across the region. It is against this backdrop that this study examined the nexus between oil induced environmental insecurities and migratory patterns in the region. Relying on the Push-Pull theoretical framework as well as extensive review of secondary materials and primary data, the paper submits that oil spillages and gas flaring have created disincentives that undermine the capacity of communities to carryout their traditional livelihood activities such as fishing, farming and mangrove forest extraction. This has in turn reduced productivity causing a sharp decline in income for most rural households thereby necessitating outmigration as a means of securing alternative livelihoods elsewhere. The paper concludes that the rising trend in environmental migration if not checked, would negatively impact the growth of rural economies and stall the development of the region as a whole. The paper recommends strict adherence to environmental protection laws as well as rigorous drive to build capacity of local people on how to improve their livelihood systems in the face of rising environmental insecurities.
Keywords: Environmental Insecurity, Livelihoods, Migration, Niger Delta