European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals

445 Ewhrudjakpor, Christian
This statement is a fact of the health conditions of the Niger-Delta people. Infact, among the
peoples of this region of Nigeria, they have a belief that, “dirts don’t kill the Blackman”. This
corroborates other studies (Jike, 2004, and Okaba 2005; Afolabi, 2005).
Table II and III is an assessment of the impact of oil exploration on health of inhabitants of host
communities. The data from 500 male and female participants was analysed using the inferential
statistical technique of chi-square (X 2 ). The result (X 2 (1) = 3.87, P < .05) confirmed the study’s
objective of negative impact on health conditions by the oil corporations’ exploration activities. This
result supports (Benike, 2002; Ogege; 2002, and Atumah 2005) studies, in assessing the environmental
impact of oil exploration activities.
Situating this result in the global context of the expectations governing oil explorations by
multinationals will be the best measure to standardized the degree of health degradation and
deprivation the people of this region are suffering consistently since the first oil well was struck in the
country. The basic globalized expectation backed by labour laws is that of social responsibility
(Afolabi, 2005). Meaning this multinationals owe their host communities the responsibility of basic
health conditions of effective sanitary practices, medical infrastructural development and infact
economic or financial commitments. But with so much profits declared every year, for instance, in
2005, (Finighan, 2006) reported that Shell Petroleum Development Company declared 42 billion
dollars profit, Chevron declared 14 billion dollars profit. Meanwhile communities where these ‘golden
egg’ is laid are impoverished and her people dying daily due to unbearable health conditions. So,
where does these monies go to? The Finighan report on this matter is real and alive in the Niger-Delta
region of Nigeria.
Table IV and V is a furtherance of assessing the impact of the oil exploration activities on
various occupations in the Niger-Delta. It is evaluating the impact on each occupations, even the
unemployed, to know first hand, the hazardous health nature of these multinationals activities. The data
generated was analysed using the chi-square (X 2 ) statistic. The result (X 2 (7) = 361.46, P < .05)
revealed that the oil exploration activities negatively impacted on all the occupations. Worst hit are the
unemployed (see table IV). Where all 210 unemployed questioned none responded that the oil
multinationals has any good thing to offer. This corroborates these studies (Atumah, 2005 and Okaba,
2005).
Although, this study did not separate medical practitioners from civil servants, the researcher
identified some during the distribution of the questionnaires. Their responses were not different from
teachers, administrators, etc, in the civil service occupation. A profile of common diseases suffered in
this region according to these medical practitioners contacted, included tuberculosis, leprosy, asthma
and other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These are particularly susceptible to toxic effects.
One nurse puts it this way: “We see them coughing, sneezing, and complaining of chest, breast and
breathing problems. Because of poverty and lack of drugs, they use herbs and vile concoctions that kill
them slowly”.
Unfortunately, these Niger-Delta people do not have corresponding medical infrastructures to
cater for them despite the huge wealth generated from their lands. In fact like Hart, (1975) inverse care
law:
The availability of good medical care tends to vary inversely with the need
for it in the population served. This inverse care law operates more
completely where medical care is most exposed to market forces and less
to where such exposure is reduced.
Igun, (1979) refers to this situation in the Niger-Delta region as ‘disease palaces’ meaning,
monies generated from the oil rich but degraded and impoverished Niger-Delta villages are used by the
federal and state governments, in collaboration with these oil multinationals like Shell, Chevron,
Exxonmobile and Texaco, to build medical centers of excellence in cities where the rich and powerful
resides.