Impact of Oil Exploration on the Socio-Economic Development of Rural Dwellers in Selected Coastal Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study examines the impact of oil exploration on the socio-economic development of rural dwellers in selected coastal areas of Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Onna Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State (AKS). Three research questions were formulated to guide the study. Major variables were conceptualized to ascertain the cause – effect relationship among the dependent and independent variables of the study. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources using survey and descriptive research methods. The projected population of the study was 554,200 people affected by the activities of oil companies in selected LGAs in AKS (NBS, 2022). A 12 item structured questionnaire were administered on 381 respondents who constituted the sample size determined by Krejcie and Morgan table of 1970. Simple and Stratified Random Sampling Techniques were used for data collection while opinion poll, tabular chart and simple percentage were used to analyzed data. The study revealed among others that: Environmental pollution such as oil spillage, gas flaring, climate change as a result of oil exploration in coastal areas has direct negative effect on the health of rural dwellers in coastal areas in AKS; Oil exploration in the coastal areas contributed to biodiversity loss, low agricultural yield in crops/livestock which hindered farming as the main source of employment to the rural people; Oil exploration contributed to infrastructure decay and environmental degradation which caused decline in the living standard of the rural people in coastal areas of AKS. It recommended that government at various levels should make laws to regulate the activities of oil companies to guarantee environmental sustainability; encouraged corporate social responsibility, payment of royalty,free medical care, employment,education scholarship and skills empowerment programmes to the host communities to reduce negative impact of oil exploration on the residents.