CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE NIGER DELTA EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Prior to the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in 1956 at Oloibiri in Rivers State and its subsequent production on a commercial scale in 1958, Niger Delta states, especially Rivers and Bayelsa, were the home of many immigrants. Rich natural endowments in the states were the main source of attraction that prompted the migration of people to the Niger Delta region in search of arable land for arable framing, trade, and jobs (Obodoegbulam, Kpe, Amadi, & Ngbara 2019). Regrettably, the reverse is now the case, as the Niger Delta communities are forced to migrate to other regions and countries as a result of gross environmental damages and ecological disasters occasioned by oil spill, gas-flaring and greenhouse gas emissions arising from indiscriminate oil and gas exploitation in the region. The main thrust of this paper is to demonstrate the impacts of climate change on Niger Delta region. Attempts are made to suggest measures to be taken to rise to the challenge of climate change in the region. To this end, the rest of this paper will conceptualize climate change and explain its causes and effects. It will thereafter show the impacts of climate change on Niger Delta region. Finally, the paper will give concluding reflections.