ARTISANAL CRUDE OIL REFINERIES: INDULGENCE, EFFECTS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN IKWERRE Local government area (L.G.A) OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined Artisanal Crude Oil Refineries: Indulgence, Effects and Coping Strategies in Ikwerre L.G.A of Rivers State, Nigeria. Three objectives and three research questions were used for the study. This study used descriptive research design. The population of the study consisted of residents in Ikwerre L.G.A of Rivers State, Nigeria. A sample of 365 respondents was selected for the study. This was achieved using purposive sampling technique to independently select artisanal crude oil refiners at their refining sites in Ikwerre L.G.A of Rivers State. The questionnaire was the instrument used to collate data for the study. The instrument was face validated by professionals in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba. Test retest method of reliability was used to establish the reliability value of 0.75 Correlation Co-efficient for the study. The percentage and frequency tables were used as a statistical method. The findings of the study revealed that corruption in government, unemployment, marginalization in the distribution of crude oil benefits and weak institutional structure predisposed people to indulge in artisanal crude oil refineries. The findings also revealed that the effects of artisanal crude oil pollutants on the environment and humans killed soil microbes, negatively affected farmlands and fishing activities, destroyed crops and livestock, which negatively affected national economy, and negatively affect farm yields which in turn predisposed farmers to poverty in the study area. The findings further revealed that coping strategies such as environmental education, curbing of corruption, friendly environmentally practices and monitoring of the whole processes of crude oil exploration by government halted the effects of artisanal crude oil pollutants. Based on the findings, study recommended among others, that the Federal Government in conjunction with the State Government   should provide job opportunities to residents, especially youths in order to put an end to artisanal crude oil refineries in Ikwerre L.G.A of Rivers State. It was also recommended that the Federal Government in conjunction with the State Government   should     provide financial support and training for residents in communities to engage in alternative livelihoods, thereby reducing the reliance on artisanal crude oil activities in the study area.