COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION IN THE CONTROL OF ARTISANAL REFINING AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT IN NIGER DELTA REGION, NIGERIA

The paper evaluated community-based intervention in the control of artisanal refining against the environment in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. It further evaluated concept of community-based intervention, artisanal refining and effect of artisanal refining on Niger Delta environments; some of which are pollution, global warming, waste disposal, ocean acidification, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and ozone layer depletion. It also applied analysis approach on how communities intervened in the control of artisanal refining against the environment in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. Such as; town hall meetings, setting up of standard committees, the use of traditional beliefs and systems, etc. The paper identified few bottlenecks to community-based intervention in the control of artisanal refining against the environment in Niger Delta Region. The study concluded that artisanal refining has adverse effect on man and the environment, so communities must also help in controlling and fighting against artisanal refining and its related activities in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. The study recommended that there is need for government to allow both host communities and private investors to establish modular refinery and again, both federal government and its security agencies should be up and doing in providing surveillance jobs for host communities.