The Niger Delta region is the bedrock of Nigeria’s oil production, which accounts for
97% of the government total revenue. Since the discovery of oil in the region, oil
exploration and exploitation have caused severe climate and environmental changes
which have impacted the lives of the inhabitant adversely. Prior to the discovery of
oil, the people of the Niger Delta made their living from the exploitation of the
resources of the land, water and forest as farmers, fishermen and hunters, this made
them attached to and protective of their environment. The devastating impacts of the
oil industries on farmland, crops, economic trees, creeks, lakes and other components
of the environment are so severe that the people can no longer engage in productive
farming, fishing and hunting as they use to do. The most affected groups are women
and children. This paper highlights in details the climatic and environmental changes
that have occurred in the Niger Delta region and shows the relationship between
these changes and poverty. It reveals the weaknesses and deficiencies in the Nigerian
Constitution in administering environmental rights to the people and suggests
institutional and constitutional solution to the environmental degradation in the
region and elsewhere.