Abstract
Nigeria’s Niger Delta region is embroiled and enmeshed in environmental crisis because of the hydra-headed level of pollution, degradation and dislocation that has become common place. With degraded land, polluted sea and perforated air, the pauperized and marginalized people of the rich yet paradoxically poor and underdeveloped region, have become exposed to and afflicted with diseases that are linked to the environment with consequential implications for socio-economic productivity. This study that relied on focused group discussions, interviews and content analyses of relevant academic texts and journals, examined air pollution in the region, the catastrophic and dysfunctional effects and the serious health challenges it poses to the Niger Delta people. The findings of the study showed that there is policy gap and gross inaction in respect of the devastated oil region and their poor, malnourished and health endangered people due to the negligence and ingrained poor performance culture of the different levels of government. The study which also revealed that the above abnormality is further aggravated by the somewhat disconnected and largely poor functioning and low performing health care delivery system in Nigeria concluded with some useful remarks and valuable recommendations including a collaborative policy environment, pragmatic action-embodying plans and programmes by the government, private oil sector and the disease-prone oil-bearing communities.
