Authors:
Nweke Dorathy Chikoldi, Telema Amachree, P. Maruthaiah Pandian, Tri Minh Nguyen
Addresses:
Department of Adult Education and Community Development, Faculty of Education, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Department of Economics, Aditanar College of Arts and Science, Tiruchendur, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. Faculty of Languages-Psychology, Hoa Sen University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Abstract:
Environmental degradation affected the adoption of alternative livelihoods under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoni villages in Rivers State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey included 1,204,100 residents from Eleme, Gokana, Khana, and Tai LGAs. The study calculated a 400-respondent sample using the Taro Yamane formula and distributed it proportionally among the study locations. Experts verified a structured Likert-scale questionnaire, and the study tested its reliability using Cronbach's Alpha. At a 0.05 significance level, the study analyzed the data using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency distributions, means, standard deviations, correlations, regressions, and ANOVA. The consensus was that environmental degradation has displaced farming and fishing, increasing the adoption of vocational and technical skills training, agribusiness and entrepreneurship, ecosystem restoration, and community-based inclusion initiatives. ANOVA found statistically significant differences between the four LGAs, with Khana and Gokana having higher perceived impacts than Eleme and Tai. Despite their popularity, the report notes that bureaucratic delays and inconsistent stakeholder engagement limit HYPREP treatments. The study finds that environmental degradation in Ogoniland changes economic survival tactics and increases dependence on alternative livelihoods. To achieve sustainable development in affected communities, it suggests expanding livelihood intervention programs, integrating environmental restoration with economic empowerment, and strengthening HYPREP's inclusivity and governance.
Keywords: Environmental Degradation; Livelihood Resilience; Ogoni Communities; Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project; Sustainable Livelihood Framework; Analysis of Variance.
Received on: 07/05/2025, Revised on: 28/07/2025, Accepted on: 31/10/2025, Published on: 07/09/2026
DOI: 10.64091/ATISL.2026.000346
AVE Trends in Intelligent Social Letters, 2026 Vol. 3 No. 3 , Pages: 108-120