This paper explores the impact of oil production by oil corporations on the Niger Delta region environment over time, with particular attention paid to the case of Ijaw oil-producing community. It focuses on the environmental impacts of oil production and associated pollution in the Ijaw area, and discusses the increasing internal contradictions involving the Ijaw youth and their elites in perpetuating environmental problems on their own land. It traces the controversy that surrounds the allegations from the local people whether oil was the only factor responsible for environmental pollution. By using scientific reports and statistical data, this paper further argues that the environmental problems facing the Niger Delta people were many, whilst oil and gas were mere contributory factors with attendant effect on water and land degradation. Using the Ijaw’s case the paper have identified that lack of complaint with environmental laws and institutional structure for enforcing them in the Niger Delta oil-producing region have continued to undermine their desire for a clean environment, particularly toward a sustainable development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large. It concludes that there is urgent need for the Federal government to establish new oil and gas regulation that should have a statutory body for proper implementation of those laws. This would ensure peace and stability, a safe, clean and habitable environment for the inhabitant of the Niger Delta to benefit from the profit accruing to the oil corporations and the Nigerian government.

This paper explores the impact of oil production by oil corporations on the Niger Delta region environment over time, with particular attention paid to the case of Ijaw oil-producing community. It focuses on the environmental impacts of oil production and associated pollution in the Ijaw area, an...