Erin Sams

February 25, 2019

Environmental Degradation Likely Causing Social Unrest

Executive Summary
Climate change and mass oil production are the likely causes of social unrest and displacement
in Northern and Southern Nigeria. The geographic connection between expansive
desertification and ethnic conflict in Northern Nigeria produces involuntary migration. The high
volume of oil production within Southern Nigeria generates mass pollution and black markets
for oil production that are ubiquitous.

Discussion
In Northern Nigeria desertification affects approximately 60 percent of the country due to
climate change and interminable droughts;1 this likely impacts the conflict between northern
and central-state farmers, as cattle herders in the north are encroaching onto central-state
farmland. 2 It is possible religious tension heightens the farming conflict, as Central and
Southern Nigeria is predominantly Christian, and Northern Nigeria is predominately Muslim.3
The farmer-herder conflict created a fatality count of more than 10 thousand people since
2011,4 and is the root cause for 94 percent of total civilian displacement.5 In 2018 the
displacement count reached 2 million civilians, notably in the Borno state in Northeast Nigeria.6
Mass migration due to displacement increases food and resource insecurity, as well as critical
levels of malnutrition within the Lake Chad Basin.7

Southern Nigeria is exposed to environmental and health degradation due to international and
local oil production sites.8 Between 1976 and 2014, 3 million barrels of crude oil spilled in the
Niger Delta, crossing through the southern states of Bayelsa and Delta.9 Due to limited
employment options and a poverty rate reaching 44 percent,10 there are countless black market
oil refineries and oil piracy, conducted by local Nigerian groups.11 The lack of initiation by the
government to increase job opportunities exponentially increases the effects of environmental
degradation, and growing conflict between civilians and the Nigerian Army.12
References

1 Nugent, Ciara. “Land Conflict Has Long Been a Problem in Nigeria. Here’s How Climate Change
Is Making It Worse”. Time. June 28, 2018. Time. Accessed February 21, 2019.
2 Nugent, Ciara. “Land Conflict Has Long Been a Problem in Nigeria. Here’s How Climate Change

Is Making It Worse”. Time. June 28, 2018. Time. Accessed February 21, 2019.
3 International Crisis Group. “Herders against Farmers: Nigeria’s Expanding Deadly Conflict”.

September 19, 2017. Crisis Group. Accessed February 21, 2019.

4 Nugent, Ciara. “Land Conflict Has Long Been a Problem in Nigeria. Here’s How Climate Change

Is Making It Worse”. Time. June 28, 2018. Time. Accessed February 21, 2019.
5 IOM UN Migration. “Nigeria-Displacement Report 23”. DTM. June 2018. Relief Web. Accessed

February 21, 2019.

6 IOM UN Migration. “Nigeria-Displacement Report 23”. DTM. June 2018. Relief Web. Accessed

February 21, 2019.

7 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “Lake Chad Basin: Crisis Overview”.

January 22, 2018. Relief Web. Accessed February 25, 2019.

8 Olaniyan, Olanrewaju. Lawanson, Akanni. “Health Expenditure and Health Status in

Northern and Southern Comparative Analysis Using NHA Framework”. Department of

Economics, University of Ibadan. March 2010. PSU. Accessed April 10, 2019.
9 Chinedu, Enegide and Chukwuma Kelechukwu Chuckwuemeka. “Oil Spillage and Heavy

Mentals Toxicity Risk in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.” August 21, 2018. Journal of Health and
Polution. NCBI. Accessed February 25, 2019.
10 Thelwell, Kim. “Poverty in Nigeria and ActionAid”. November 6, 2018. Borgen Project.

Accessed April 9, 2019.

11 Aljazeera. “Piracy in Nigeria”. March 9, 2017. Aljazeera. Accessed February 21, 2019.
12 Ross, Will. “Nigeria’s Booming Illegal Oil Refineries”. July 26, 2012. BBC News, Niger Delta.

BBC. Accessed February 21, 2019.