EARLY WARNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT IN THE NIGER DELTA

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between early warning and environmental conflict in the Niger Delta. The study focused on Rivers and Bayelsa States that have been the epicenter of environmental conflicts in the Niger Delta. The study raised eight objectives and eight research questions. Theoretically, the Human Security and Frustration-Aggression theories were used to guide the study. Methodologically, the study adopted a case research design. The study relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. Data obtained from the primary source was analyzed using simple percentages. The study found that environmental degradation of biodiversity by oil multinationals were early warnings signs that environmental conflict could degenerate into violent crisis. The study also revealed that the Niger Deltans used dialogue as a way of responding to early warning signals of environmental conflict, but resort to violent protest when such dialogue failed to yield useful result. Therefore, the study recommended that the government should establish liaison offices of existing government institutions such as Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, and State Ministries of Environment at local government levels with mandate to monitor, collate, analyze and address risk factors of environmental conflict in the region.