BLESSED BY OIL, BURDENED BY POLLUTION: AN ASSESSMENT OF OIL EXPLORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN IBENO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

This study examined the environmental and socio-economic impacts of oil exploration activities in Ibeno Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, with particular emphasis on oil spillage and gas flaring. The study was guided by two objectives: to examine the effects of oil spillage on soil and water pollution and to assess the contribution of gas flaring to environmental degradation in the study area. The study was anchored on the Resource Curse Theory developed by Auty (1993) and further advanced by Sachs and Warner (1995), which explains how resource-rich regions often experience environmental degradation, weak institutional governance, and socio-economic underdevelopment despite abundant natural resources. A qualitative research design was adopted. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with purposively selected community residents and key informants in Ibeno LGA. The data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns relating to the environmental consequences of petroleum exploration. The findings revealed that oil spillage has severely degraded soil quality, resulting in reduced soil fertility, poor crop yields, and widespread abandonment of agricultural lands. Water bodies were also found to be heavily contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons, making them unsafe for domestic use while simultaneously reducing aquatic biodiversity and fish populations. Consequently, farming and fishing livelihoods have been seriously affected, leading to declining household incomes, increased poverty, food insecurity, and livelihood displacement. The study further established that gas flaring remains a major source of environmental degradation through persistent air pollution, increased ambient temperatures, climate variability, and deterioration of ecosystem quality. Respondents reported continuous exposure to smoky air, soot deposition, excessive heat, respiratory difficulties, eye irritation, headaches, and skin disorders, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. These findings corroborate existing evidence on the adverse environmental and public health consequences of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta. The study concludes that unless effective environmental governance, strict regulatory enforcement, routine gas flaring elimination, and comprehensive environmental remediation programmes are implemented, environmental degradation and socio-economic vulnerability will continue to undermine sustainable development in Ibeno Local Government Area. Accordingly, the study recommends strengthening environmental regulatory institutions, accelerating investment in gas capture and utilization infrastructure, enforcing prompt oil spill remediation, restoring degraded ecosystems, and expanding public health intervention programmes to improve the well-being and resilience of affected communities.