The Niger Delta is located in the Atlantic Coast of southern Nigeria where River Niger divides into
numerous tributaries. It is the second largest delta in the world with a coastline spanning about 450
kilometers terminating at the Imo River entrance (Awosika, 1995). The region spans over 20,000
square kilometers and it has been described as the largest wetland in Africa and among the three
largest in the world (CLO, 2002). About 2,370 square kilometers of the Niger Delta area consist of
rivers, creeks and estuaries and while stagnant swamp covers about 8600 square kilometers. The
delta, with mangrove swamps spanning about 1900 square kilometers has the largest mangrove
swamps in Africa, (Awosika, 1995). The region falls within the tropical rain forest zone. The
ecosystem of the area is highly diverse and supportive of numerous species of terrestrial and
aquatic flora and fauna and human life. As opined by Iyayi (2004), it is richest wetland in the
world. The region is divided into four ecological zones namely coastal inland zone, mangrove
swamp zone, freshwater zone and lowland rain forest zone (ANEEJ, 2004).
Politically, the Niger Delta area cuts across nine states in southern Nigeria which include Abia (1),
Akwa Ibom (2), Bayelsa (3), Cross River (4), Delta (5), Edo (6), Imo (7), Ondo (8) and River (9)
States (Fig. 1.0). The region has emerged as one of the most ecologically sensitive region in
Nigeria. Resources (oil and gas) from the region are the main source of revenue for the Nigerian
state, accounting for about 97% of the country’s total export. Oil was first discovered in the region
in 1958 and since the early 1970s, oil has dominated the countries economy