By Otelemate J. Georgewill
Background
Nestled between lush mangroves and shimmering creeks, the Niger Delta pulsates as a beacon of natural and cultural wealth in Nigeria. However, lurking beneath this beauty is a disquiet—a silent epidemic gnawing at the soul of the region. It’s a double threat of mental stagnation and environmental degradation, fueled by relentless oil extraction and the debilitating grip of climate change. Once hailed as a golden blessing, oil has seeped into the very fabric of life in the delta communities, its wealth unravelling a future choked by dependency and inertia.
Dreams have become circumscribed, aspirations confined to the pursuit of power and wealth within the established oil-driven paradigm. The younger generation, inheriting this legacy, harbours aspirations of becoming “Senior Men”—wielding influence and privilege within the existing system, rather than forging new paths, charting their destinies, or nurturing the land. This article explores these interconnected threads, tracing their devastating impact on the people and future of the Niger Delta. It ultimately resounds as a call for inclusive climate justice.
In 2018, as I travelled through communities along the creeks winding through the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, my interactions with the locals enriched and reshaped my thoughts about the area. Among the various interviews and conversations,I had, one with some young kids, aged between 10 and 14 years, left a lasting impression on me. I asked, “What would you like to become when you grow up?” Three out of the five young kids responded, “I want to be a Senior Man,” while another said, “I aim to be a Senior Bros and Chairman in the future.” The girl in their midst replied, “I want to be the wife of a senior man.”Senior Bros and Chairman” (equally described in Peter Enahoro’s “How to be a Nigerian”) refers to a person of authority, respected and celebrated by their community, such as a politician or the leader of a militant group, often surrounded by escorts from the security forces. Despite its seeming simplicity, this interaction reveals a complex story of a resource-rich region became caught between pervasive mental and intellectual apathy and the fallout of the of climate change debate.
Although global conversations about climate change often analyse the suffering of people in places like the Niger Delta in a methodical way, a crucially overlooked factor is the psychological and cognitive stagnation induced by oil extraction activity. Paradoxically, the so-called blessing of black gold has left communities in a state of dependency, redundancy, and lethargy. Oil profits, went to the multinational, the federal and perhaps the state governments. The communities only saw the environmental degradation and the devastation of traditional life and livelihood. The proverbial ‘golden eggs laid by the goose’, have lulled these communities into complacency where dreams are restricted to the narrow goal of being a “Senior Man” and aspirations are suppressed.
The urgent question that arises as the world attempts to depart from carbon-based energy sources is: what happens to these overexploited resource-rich communities that have long been laying the golden eggs? We have benefited from the wealth that has been taken from these lands, but what plans have been made to help the environmentally ravished local communities when the resource supply runs out? What are the best ways to counteract the deep-seated mental and intellectual malaise induced by years of abuse? This is a call for a radical change in narrative and policy, not just for action on climate change but in the philosophical approach of climate justice processes. As the conversation about climate change spreads around the world, it needs to get past the technical terms and face the adaptive issues of broken cultural values. The communities woven into the dangerous web of oil and exported wealth are entitled to more than a passing worry; they require long-term solutions that transcend formal environmental conservation in order to reshape their future. It is not just about reducing carbon emissions; it is also about releasing communities from the bonds of mental inertia, building resilience in the face of impending change, and making sure that the goose that lays the golden eggs is taken care of long after the eggs stop glittering.
Oil Exploration: The Blessing and blight on the Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, a region of immense ecological and cultural significance in Nigeria, is facing an environmental crisis that demands global attention and immediate action. This delta is not only rich in biodiversity but is home to a large population impoverished people whose livelihoods are intricately tied to the natural resources of the area. However, the relentless oil pollution and the concurrent effects of climate change have put the region in grave peril, demanding justice.
It is noteworthy that efforts to get redress against the oil majors through international courts have been futile.
Oil exploration and extraction have been a significant source of revenue for Nigeria, but it has come at a great cost to the environment and the people living in the Niger Delta. Decades of oil production have resulted in widespread pollution, leading to devastating consequences for the region. The Niger Delta has witnessed countless oil spills over the years, with thousands of barrels of crude oil being released into its waterways and surrounding lands. These spills, both from accidents from the oil majors and pipeline vandalism by the local militias, have caused severe damage to aquatic ecosystems, killing fish, destroying mangroves, and contaminating drinking water sources. Local communities have been left to suffer the consequences of these spills, as they often lack the resources to clean up or seek legal redress. The pollution from oil spills and gas flaring has had dire health effects on the residents of the Niger Delta. Exposure to toxic chemicals in the air and water has led to a surge in respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, and even cancer. Communities that rely on fishing and farming have seen their livelihoods destroyed, leaving them impoverished and struggling to make ends meet. The destruction of natural habitats and farmlands has forced many communities in the Niger Delta to abandon their homes. Displaced people often end up in overcrowded, informal settlements, facing a lack of basic amenities and suffering from food insecurity. The loss of ancestral lands and cultural disruption exacerbates their plight.
Climate Change in the Niger Delta
In addition to the immediate threats posed by oil pollution, the Niger Delta is also grappling with the long-term impacts of global climate change caused by carbon emission from distant lands. Rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea-levels are compounding the region’s environmental challenges. The Niger Delta is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise due to its low-lying terrain. As global temperatures continue to rise, the melting of polar ice caps and the thermal expansion of seawater are causing the sea levels in the region to increase. This phenomenon has resulted in the erosion of coastal areas, displacing even more communities and causing loss of agricultural land. Climate change has intensified extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and flooding in the Niger Delta. These events disrupt livelihoods, destroy what little infrastructure exists, and exacerbate food insecurity, as crops are washed away or submerged. Communities that are already grappling with the aftermath of oil pollution are now dealing with the added burden of increasingly frequent and severe floods. The combination of oil pollution and climate change has a major implication for food security in the Niger Delta. Traditional fishing and farming practices have been severely affected by both factors, leaving communities struggling to access nutritious food.
This grim picture painted above, speaks to the perpetuation of a cycle of poverty, malnutrition and mental stagnation. In the eyes of children playing by the oil-blackened waters, dreams flicker weakly, “Senior Man,” they proclaim, a title signifying power and privilege within the oil-fueled hierarchy. But where are the dreams of doctors, artists, innovators? Where are the whispers of building schools, not wielding guns? The oil boom, ironically, has become a gilded cage, its riches stifling ambition, replacing ingenuity with the hollow pursuit of established patterns. This mental stagnation isn’t a personal failing; it’s a systemic trap. Decades of oil wealth have fostered dependence, leeching initiative and replacing it with a reliance on the crumbs falling from the oil barons’ table. Education stagnating, innovation withering, and the promise of a better future dimming to a hazy mirage. A generation raised on the expectation of oil wealth faces a brutal awakening, deprived of their promised future, their frustration may boil over into unrest, a volatile eruption targeting both the system that failed them and the communities around them. Confined to the narrow sphere of oil-fueled power struggles, communities, stripped of their self-sustenance, become spectators in their own development, watching as oil companies extract wealth then depart leaving behind a legacy of environmental and social decay.
A Call for Climate Justice
The plight of the people of the Niger Delta is not of their making; it is a result of the actions and policies of both domestic and global actors. Climate justice must touch the ground in the Niger Delta. It must go beyond a plea for fairness, accountability, and redress for the communities that have borne the brunt of environmental degradation and climate change. Oil companies operating in the Niger Delta must be held accountable for the environmental damage they have caused. This includes cleaning up oil spills promptly, compensating affected communities, and adopting more environmental, intellectually stimulating, and social sustainable practices. Nigeria, with international support, must invest in mitigation and adaptation strategies to address climate change consequences in the Niger Delta. This includes strengthening coastal defenses, implementing climate-resilient agriculture practices, and providing communities with the tools and knowledge to adapt to changing conditions, moving from the place of reliance on oil proceeds to more sustainable and less risky options. The Niger Delta’s development should prioritize sustainability, taking into account the environmental and social consequences of oil extraction. Investments should promote renewable energy, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture, ensuring that local communities benefit from these initiatives. The time for Local communities in the Niger Delta regarding environmental and climate policies is now. Capacity must be built to engage the climate debate. Also, breaking free from mental stagnation requires a multi-pronged attack. Education must be reviewed, its curriculum reimagined to nurture critical thinking, innovation, and self-reliance. Sustainable development initiatives, not dependent on oil, must be implemented, empowering communities to chart their own course. Stories of resilience, of communities reclaiming their agency, need to be amplified, offering hope and inspiration to those trapped in the oil-soaked slumber.
Empowering these communities to have a voice in shaping their future is essential for achieving climate justice. Climate change is a global challenge, and international cooperation is essential. Developed countries, which have historically contributed the most to climate change, should provide financial and technological support to vulnerable regions like the Niger Delta to help them mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These adjustments will not come naturally to the international community. The response from the international community will depend of organization, effective negotiation and resourcing the parties adequately.
Conclusion
Years of talk and “policy” have not abated gas flaring in the Niger delta and litigation in international space has brought little relief. The Niger Delta is a stark example of the profound injustices that result from environmental degradation and climate change. The challenge extends well beyond the Delta. This story is a microcosm of a global struggle against resource dependence and its pernicious effects on minds and dreams. Confronting mental stagnation requires recognizing the systemic forces that perpetuate it, dismantling the structures that reward passivity and nurture dependency. The people of this region, who have contributed the least to global carbon emissions, are suffering the most from the consequences of a changing climate and unchecked oil pollution. Climate justice demands that the world takes responsibility for its actions and takes urgent steps to address the issues faced by the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta, with its vibrant beauty and simmering unrest, stands as a stark reminder – oil may fuel empires, but it can also suffocate dreams. Only by nurturing the embers of mental resilience, by fostering self-reliance and innovation, can we break free from the oil-fueled slumber and unlock the true potential of this remarkable region, and by extension, our world. Justice isholding accountable those responsible for pollution, supporting sustainable development, and empowering affected communities. The Nigerian state does not have a history of representing indigenous interests in international negotiations neither do the state governments when it comes to investing in the future of local communities. So, who will go for us, becomes the question in the minds of the communities. A just resolution of the Niger Delta conundrum will be a protracted effort, that will require more than goodwill and moral suasion. Financial investment, legal expertise, knowledgeable negotiators and political will, could make the difference to the outcomes for the people of the Niger Delta.
The beleaguered next generation of Niger Deltans faces a double dilemma. They never saw the benefits of the oil boom and their future has been mortgaged by the recklessness of the times.
Georgewill PhD, is a Managing Partner at Krosses & Dots Consult Ltd and a visiting scholar at the Centre for Public Policy Alternatives.
