Effects of Atlantic Ocean Encroachment on Limited Arable Land in Escravos Metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria

J. I. Kperegbeyi, E. Ogboi

Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Agriculture, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1101152                

Abstract

The primary objective of the research was to assess the impact of Atlantic Ocean on limited arable land on the inhabitants of Escravos metropolis in Warri South-West Local Government Area (LGA), Delta State. The primary data used for the investigation were obtained using structured questionnaire given to 140 respondents. Anthropological methods of data collected (participants, observation) were also employed. Simple statistical tools (percentage) were used to analyze the acquired data. The result showed that 100% of the respondents opined that Atlantic Ocean encroachment (land degradation) was one of the major causes of limited arable land. While a mean of 65% of the respondents claimed that pollution of land due to crude oil exploration also caused limited arable land 46.67% mean of the respondent claimed that oil companies occupy the large available arable land for operational base and flow stations. The results also show that the impacts of Atlantic Ocean encroachment on limited arable land in Escravos metropolis resulted to a mean of 74.29% of unemployment in the host communities, which causes youth restiveness, oil bunkering and pipeline vandalization in Escravos metropolis. 60% of the respondents have migrated to urban centers as a result of scarcity of foodstuffs, high cost of agricultural products and by-products and low productivity of fishes in the area.

Keywords

Arable Land, Impact, Inhabitants, Encroachment, Salinity, Migration

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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