Oil Spillage, Environmental Degradation in Niger Delta Region and Ways to Promote Cordial Relationship in Egbema Local Government Area in Imo State Nigeria

The purpose of this research work is to investigate and analyze the socio-economic implications of oil exploration in the Niger Delta region. Egbema Local Government Area in Imo State was used as the study area to represent the Niger Delta region. For the relevance of this study, Karl Mark theory of economic determinism was used as the theoretical frame work; and in the research methodology, a structured questionnaire was administered to the indigenes of the selected Niger Delta region to elicit the necessary information needed for this study. At the end of this study, researcher observed that there is a relationship between there is a relationship between oil exploration and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region as well as lack of capacity building/skills acquisition. Based on the findings of this study, it recommends among other things, that oil companies should improve the standard of living of their host communities by providing them with necessary social amenities, paying adequate compensation to the affected people in the area and ensuring that the capacity of the youths is built to reduce the rate of youth restiveness in the region. Equally, adequate devices should be used for environmental protection in the region.