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Paper short abstract:

Oil extractive activities of multinational corporations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta have led to massive oil pollution of the fragile ecosystem of the region. This paper examines the impacts of oil pollution on local species and the indigenous food culture of the people in the Niger Delta.

Paper long abstract:

Oil extractive activities of multinational corporations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta have spawned a major ecological crisis, due to the destructive impacts of massive oil pollution on the fragile ecosystem. This has led to gradual displacement of the rich environmental resources that sustain traditional livelihood of farming and fishing of the people. While the oil-induced negative environmental and livelihood impacts have been well documented in extant literature, the impacts on species, and food culture have been understudied. This paper examines the impacts of oil pollution on local species and the indigenous food culture. Based on field studies, this paper illustrates that incessant oil spills and gas flaring have led to significant decline and loss of variety of food crops, including special type of cocoyam known as “Mama coco.” animal like Manatee, and variety of fishes such as moon and scale fish, vital to the indigenous food culture of the people. It has also displaced the age-long cultural practices used in farming and fishing, disrupting traditional festival for celebrating bountiful harvest. The displacement of species and food culture, along with the poor compensation practices of oil companies result in violent resistance involving pipeline vandalism, oil theft and artisanal oil refining that worsen oil pollution. This amplified the ecological crisis, in ways that worsen the damages to the ecosystem and may ultimately result in total species and cultural extinction. This portends a major threat to the survival of the people and the sustainability of their fragile environment.