Environmental conflicts and forced migration in the Nigerian niger delta

Abstract

This chapter highlights the causal relationship between environmental conflicts and forced migration in the Niger Delta. It draws attention to the role of the capitalist mode of production and its social relations in generating scarcities, resulting in environmental conflicts and forced migration in the region. Looking at the three levels of conflict that normally trigger forced migration in the Niger Delta, the chapter critiques the population-conflict thesis of Homer-Dixon and the Nigerian state’s alliance with global capital, noting the adverse implications for environmental justice, security and sustainability in the oil-producing communities. In conclusion, the chapter suggests that the Nigerian government and its development partners must ensure that genuine efforts are made towards addressing the costs of resource extraction in the oil-rich but ecologically fragile region.