Human Security, Livelihoods and Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria.

Abstract

This thesis critically examines the complex connections between vulnerabilities, environmental degradation and livelihoods in relation to human security in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. This region is pervaded by a web of socio-economic and environmental issues that have severely impacted the lives of people and communities due to environmental degradation. For example, the exploration and exploitation of natural resources in this region have had extensive consequences on the livelihood activities of the people. Moreover, the Niger Delta has been affected by persistent social instabilities and a lack of access to some of the basic assets of security, including personal, health, economic and environmental security. While the concepts of livelihoods and environmental degradation are reasonably well understood in the context of the Niger Delta, the complex links between them in relation to vulnerability and human security remain unexplored. To examine how environmental degradation impacts livelihoods, this thesis explores the concept of human security, and emancipation following a rights-based approach in line with the concept of vulnerability. Furthermore, it draws from semi-structured interviews conducted in the region on the lived experiences of community members, such as farmers and fishers, and their challenges in bridging generational crises in the context of environmental degradation and long-lasting political repression and conflicts which have affected people’s livelihood activities in diverse ways. The analysis of the Niger Delta as a case study hence develops a critical conceptualisation of environmental degradation that reveals the complex connection between livelihood, human security and vulnerabilities. Therefore, the thesis contributes to the refinement and further development of theory to operationalise human security and emancipation. I argue that understanding the interconnectedness of security and livelihood issues in the context of such crises provides an innovative approach to considering both environmental and social factors in sustainable development, which is essential for the overall well-being of people in the region.

Date of Award	27 Nov 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Oliver Hensengerth (Supervisor), Helena Farrand Carrapico (Supervisor) & Aisling O'Loghlen (Supervisor)