PICTORIAL DESCRIPTION OF DEGRADED NIGER DELTA ENVIRONMENT AND COPING STRATEGIES

Abstract

Having decided to present the challenges of Niger Delta environment using pictures and the aim was certainly achieved as some of the pictures truly represented happenings in the region. This study used descriptive research design. The study shows that the environment of the Niger Deltans are degraded and some persons in reaction to the perceived injustice to the people and its environment; decided to organise themselves under the aegis of differing names in an atttempt to survive adopted strategies and most of these survival strategies in no small measures contribute to the despoiling or degrading of the environment. However, this paper is of the view that rather than adopting methods that would check the activities of the multi- national companies (MNCs), the people own their compounded environmental challenges as a result of wrong perception and beliefs. Therefore, this paper suggests that the people, MNCs and Federal Government should collaborate as to reduce to the barest minimum the degradation that is ongoing in the region. Next, that the people should form themselves as environmental watch dogs to forestall the assaults of MNCs activities on their environment. That the Federal Government should emphasize that the MNCs adopt international best practice models as it is done in their home nations. The above, when properly harnessed will automatically mean peace and harmony for all and sundry; as the environment will be healthy and the people too.