CRUDE OIL REFINING INDUSTRY: A CORRELATE TO HEALTH AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Illegal refineries in communities has placed residents lives and the environment into disaster era. Humans, plants and animal habitats have been devastated by black soot. This scenario has left the public to suffer various illnesses associated with illegal refining of crude oil. The study investigated illegal crude oil refining: a correlate to health and socio-economic challenges in Niger Delta. The objective of this research is to determine the causes of youth involvement in illegal refining, and to examine the public health disaster from wastes of illegal refineries. Two questions are formulated, one of which is, what are the causes of youth involvement in illegal refining? And the second is, how does illegal refining of crude oil constitute a public health disaster? The illicit relationship theory was utilized. However, the study adopted descriptive survey design to obtain secondary data. The findings of the research revealed that unemployment and poverty are key factors to why youths involve in illegal refining. The study further revealed that activities of illegal refineries circulates black soot which has resulted to public health disaster through environmental pollution. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government should create job opportunities through establishment of manufacturing industries. Government should assist affected communities with medical supplies in terms of drugs and treatment.