THE OPERATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL OIL CORPORATIONS AND WOMEN’S LIVELIHOOD IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND REMEDIAL MEASURES

Abstract

The Niger Delta region is rich in oil and gas resources and dominated by International Oil Corporations (IOCs) which engages in operations such as exploration, drilling, extraction of crude oil, production of crude oil products, transportation and sales of the crude oil and gas. However, these activities have led to numerous challenges faced by the women that beg for attention. This paper aims at identifying the challenges faced by the women of Ogulagha kingdom of Delta State, Nigeria caused by the operations of International Oil Corporations (IOCs) and examining the relationships that exist. The paper also proffers some remedial measures on how the impact of the operations of IOCs on the livelihood of women in Ogulagha Kingdom can be mitigated. The challenges identified were environmental degradation, pose enormous human health risk from the consumption of contaminated seafoods, loss of sources of livelihood (fishing, farming and trading) particularly among women, loss of arable lands and water pollution thereby making the water to be undrinkable and recommends that the itemized challenges be addressed to serve as a mitigation measures.