Effect of Environmental Pollution on Rural Women in the Niger Delta

Abstract

United Nations Development Program – Niger Delta Human Development Report (2006) assert that ‘’the environment is very important for the Niger Delta people where 60% of the population depends on the Natural environment living and non-living for livelihood’ In sum, the environment is the independent web of sources of livelihoods for rural women in the Niger Delta. However, the continuous viability and sustainability of the environment to render this eco-services and remain primarily the source of water supply, energy, food/protein supply, material for housing and pharmaceutical supply in this part of the unequal world remain a dilemma, following the continuous environmental pollution of the region due to various activities of man in his quest to explore the earth for crude oil and gas reserve for wealth accumulation. This has led to high negative impact on the inhabitants of the Niger delta region particularly rural women. This study therefore was carried out to investigate the attendant effect of environmental pollution on rural women in the Niger delta. Survey design was used for the study focusing on rural women. Secondary and primary data were obtained and used forthe study. Non parametric analytic tool and descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the data. The results of the analyzed data show a strong negative relationship between environmental pollution and rural women. The study therefore concludes that environmental pollution affect Niger delta rural women negatively leading to their lack of access to sources of water supply, shortage in fish/fisheries, fuelwood and farm produce as well as reproductive health imbalance. The study recommends that the management of oil companies in the Niger delta should put in place measures that will make their operations environmentally friendly to guard against further environmental pollution, make provision for sustainable source of water supply for their host communities, carry out empowerment scheme to enable the rural women have alternative source of income since they can no longer depend on the mangrove ecosystem and farmland which hitherto was their major means of livelihood and also built and equip cottage hospitals in the host communities to carter for those already affected and potential victims of reproductive health challenge.