ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA

Abstract

The Niger Delta region remains a thorn in the Nigerian state as it continues to be marred in crisis occasioned by unsustainable oil production. Environmental depredation resulting from oil production often undermine livelihood in the region. Although the activities of the oil industry are often blamed for this situation, the influence of environmental management in the oil industry seems have been given inadequate attention. This study, therefore, investigated environmental management and sustainable development in the Niger Delta. The specific objective of the study is to show that weak enforcement of environmental regulations in Nigeria is responsible for the problems of development in the Niger Delta region. It argued that continued environmental degradation and the loss of livelihood with the attendant upheaval in the Niger Delta is fuelled by weak enforcement of environmental laws by relevant government agencies. Data for the study was generated from secondary sources. The findings indicate that weak enforcement of environmental regulations is the basic factor in the loss of agricultural land and nutrients, extinction of wildlife and aquatic species, deforestation and ecosystem destruction, and the loss of sustainable livelihood as well as youth restiveness and delirious violence that characterise the Niger Delta region. It recommends that the need for a stronger political will backed up by effective public participation through NGOs and stakeholder consultations in the enforcement of environmental regulations for sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.