Effects of Oil Spillage on Community Development in the Niger Delta Region: Implications for the Eradication of Poverty and Hunger (Millennium Development Goal One) in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper assessed the effects of oil spillage on community development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria with a view to determine its adverse effects on poverty and hunger and its eradication in the region. The concepts of oil spillage, community development, poverty and hunger were reviewed. To effectively assess the effects, three research questions were formulated and analyzed. The instruments used for data collection were the questionnaire, focus group discussions and observation. The face and content validity was tested and also the reliability. Research assistants were used to administer the 15 items questionnaire while the focus group discussions and observations were done by the researchers. The data was analyzed using percentages and weighted mean. The modified likert scale was used to assign values and criterion mean of 2.50 to analyze the research questions. The results of the study showed that the causes and effects of oil spillage were the same in the oil producing states; poverty in the community caused by oil spillage has led to environmental degradation; poverty rate is still on the increase due to poor health as the children are malnourished; the rate of youth unemployment is high and there is no evidence of the national food security in the communities. Thus, achieving millennium development goal one is still a mirage in this region. It will take the efforts of the oil companies, government and community members to institute control measures on oil spillages.