Oil Spill Incidents and Fisheries Production in the Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Econometric Analysis

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is one of the most ecologically significant wetland ecosystems in Africa and supports extensive artisanal fisheries that contribute to food security, employment, and rural livelihoods (United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2011; FAO, 2022). However, decades of petroleum exploration and production have resulted in recurrent oil spill incidents that pose severe environmental and socio economic challenges for communities dependent on aquatic resources (Okonta & Douglas, 2019; Amnesty International, 2020). This study empirically examines the relationship between oil spill incidents and fisheries production in the Niger Delta using econometric analysis. The research employs annual time series data covering the period 2005 to 2024. Secondary data on oil spill frequency and spill volume were obtained from the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), while fisheries production data were sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics. Descriptive trend analysis and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression techniques were applied to estimate the impact of oil spill frequency and oil spill volume on annual fish catch production. The findings reveal a strong inverse relationship between oil spill indicators and fisheries productivity. The regression results show that each additional oil spill incident reduces annual fish catch by approximately 729 metric tonnes, while each additional barrel of oil spilled reduces fish production by approximately 4.65 tonnes. The models demonstrate strong explanatory power with coefficients of determination of 0.954 and 0.837 respectively. The findings confirm that oil spill incidents significantly undermine fisheries productivity and threaten the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems in the Niger Delta (Adewumi et al., 2018; Osuji & Oti, 2016). The study recommends stronger environmental regulation, improved spill prevention technologies, and ecosystem restoration programs to protect fisheries resources and support the livelihoods of coastal communities.