The impact of the Niger delta environment on EIA follow-up of oil and gas projects

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Follow-Up of oil and gas projects in the Niger Delta is reported to be weak and inadequate. This study used secondary data analysis to examine the impact of the Niger Delta environment on the weak implementation of EIA follow-up of oil and gas projects in the region. The study compared the follow-up performance of projects located between two geopolitical environments of Bayelsa and Rivers states and between the ecological environments of upland and the riverine. Results showed no statistically significant difference between the projects located in Bayelsa state and Rivers state (U = 14, P= 0.505) although median performance score was higher for projects located in Bayelsa state (Mdn = 53) than for projects in Rivers state (Mdn = 28). Also, while median performance score was higher for projects located in riverine environment (Mdn = 61.1) than for projects located in the upland environment (Mdn = 31) the difference in their performance was not statistically significant (U = 9.500, P= 0.157). The study concluded that the location of oil and gas projects across different geopolitical and ecological environments within the Niger Delta region has no significant impact on EIA follow-up of the projects.