Petroleum exploitation and the socio‐economic environment in Nigeria

Nigeria's growth into one of the world's leading exporter of petroleum has been accompanied by an increasing stress of oil exploitation activities on the environment of the producing areas. The environment is disturbed through the flaring of gas in oil‐fields and the spillage of oil, amongst others. This study in the Forcados region involving two small communities ‐ Odimodi and Ogulagha ‐ gives an indication of the dimensions of the various problems consequent on petroleum exploitation. The major problems identified include pollution in all its ramifications, destruction of property and displacement. Although there are instances where communities in the oil‐producing area profit from that activity, the environmental issue has forced the hitherto lax Government to take steps to ensure that all oil companies pursue anti‐pollution programmes.