Living with extraction: Environmental injustice, slow observation and the decolonial turn in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Extractive activities in the countries of the Global South, particularly in various regions of Africa, serve as evidence of the pervasive and reinforcing nature of accumulative and commodifying practices, which are deeply rooted in and perpetuate the structural imbalances that have existed since the onset of colonization and the proliferation of colonial capitalism. The historical trajectory of resource and oil exploitation in Africa has been characterized by the occurrence of violent capitolocenes on the continent, eventually resulting in instances of environmental injustice, racial discrimination, socio-economic deprivation and communal discord. In this context, the article analyses the persistent issues and consequences of environmental injustices in Africa, focusing specifically on the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This region has been characterized by extensive oil extraction, environmental hazards and subsequent adverse effects. The article posits that the communities in the Niger Delta are subject to a threefold reality, which is characterized by a pattern of slow violence, slow observation and epistemic injustice. Furthermore, this article argues that the amelioration of ongoing environmental injustices on a rampant scale is contingent upon the adoption of a decolonial framework that seeks to advocate for the knowledge of indigenous populations, impoverished masses and marginalized communities in the Niger Delta.