Ikechukwu .C. Akor1, Victor. C. Nwosumba2, Ikechukwu .O. Ukeje3, Otu. Akanu Otu4, Chuwkwuemeka. E. Ibe5, Hope Nwigwe6, Johnson. N. Aloh7 & Sampson. O. Amulu8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7 & 8 Department of Political Science, Alex Ekwueme Federal university Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author’s E-mail: Charles.akor@funai.edu.ng
- Abstract
The commencement of oil exploration in commercial quantities in Oloibiri in the Niger Delta in 1956, came with great excitement and tall hopes for the rapid development and accelerated civilization of the region. But little was known of the pains associated with the exploration of oil such as oil spillages, gas flaring, deforestation, noise pollution, and other sundry ecological effects. The activities of the oil companies have been implicated in this malaise. However, there have been state laws to nip to the bud these untoward effects of oil exploration in the environment. Nevertheless, the status quo remains to the detriment of national security and survival. This paper espouses the idea that it was the inability of the state to effectively monitor and sanction these oil companies that has led to the despoilment of the Niger Delta environment by the activities of the later. We anchored our analysis on the regulatory capture theory. This will aid an understanding of the nexus between the state and oil companies in the persistent despoliation of the Niger Delta environment despite state laws to the contrary. We will be guided by the following question: why has, despite state laws against oil spillages and gas flaring in Nigeria, this activities has continued untrammeled in the Niger Delta environment.
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