Environmental Degradation and Community Conflict in Akwa Ibom State’s Oil-Producing Areas

This study examines the relationship between environmental degradation and community conflict in oil-producing areas of Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria. As one of Nigeria's highest oil-producing states, Akwa Ibom has experienced extensive environmental damage from oil spills, gas flaring, and pipeline failures, generating persistent conflicts between communities, oil companies, and government regulatory bodies. Employing a descriptive research design, data were collected from 155 respondents drawn from Eket, Ibeno, and Ikot Abasi local government areas using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Secondary data were obtained from NOSDRA environmental assessment reports and published academic research from 2020 to 2024. The theoretical framework draws from political ecology theory and the human needs theory. Findings indicate that contamination of water sources, destruction of fishing grounds, and crop failure resulting from oil pollution are the primary environmental grievances fuelling community hostility towards oil operators in Akwa Ibom. Conflict manifestations range from community protests and facility vandalism to full-scale inter-communal disputes over pollution-compensation revenue. Recommendations include enforcing strict environmental liability for oil operators, establishing an independent community environmental monitoring unit in each oil-producing LGA, and developing a transparent compensation formula that eliminates elite capture of oil revenue. Keywords: environmental degradation, community conflict, Akwa Ibom State, oil pollution, resource conflict.