Olayioye, Oluwatosin, Diedrich, Amy, Newlands, Maxine, and Addison, Jane (2026) Geo narratives: Mapping local perspectives on the socio-ecological realities of extractivism in the Niger Delta. The Extractive Industries and Society, 26. 101847. p. 101847.

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Abstract

This article examines the socio-ecological impacts of oil and gas activities in four communities in the Niger Delta using a political ecology lens and environmental justice perspective. Drawing on participatory mapping, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, the study reveals that community exposure to extractive infrastructure is both spatial and structural—defined not just by proximity to pipelines and facilities but also by systemic neglect, weak governance, and infrastructural deficits. The concept of “structural exposure” is introduced to explain how absence of services (e.g., roads, hospitals, potable water) amplifies harm in affected communities, while the idea of “exposure displacement” captures how ecological pressure migrates when resource users are pushed into contested or degraded areas. These dynamics deepen environmental and livelihood vulnerabilities and are often mediated by institutional inaction. Findings highlight a range of community impacts—environmental degradation, cultural erosion, psychological stress, and socio-political disempowerment—as well as coping strategies such as artisanal refining, selfmedication, and overexploitation of non-oil resources. These responses, while pragmatic, are often maladaptive, reinforcing cycles of vulnerability in the absence of state or corporate support. The analysis shows that harm is not evenly distributed but shaped by differentiated access to institutional protection, reinforcing patterns of environmental injustice. By linking these lived experiences to broader policy and governance failures, this article offers a grounded empirical base for subsequent governance and actor-network analysis and contributes to global debates on extractivism, vulnerability, and environmental justice.

Item ID:	90294
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2214-7918
Keywords:	Political ecology; Extractivism; Niger Delta; Environmental governance; Participatory mapping; Geo-narratives; Environmental justice; Oil and gas impacts
Copyright Information:	© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Sensitivity Note:	Research data are culturally sensitive qualitative materials. De-identified excerpts are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Full datasets are not publicly shared due to ethical considerations.
Additional Information:	This article forms part of a PhD thesis by publication. The study is based on qualitative, community-based research in the Niger Delta. Underlying interview data and geo-narratives are culturally sensitive and are therefore not publicly shared; de-identified excerpts and aggregated materials are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2026 23:42
FoR Codes:	44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4404 Development studies > 440404 Political economy and social change @ 35% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4407 Policy and administration > 440704 Environment policy @ 30% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4408 Political science > 440805 Environmental politics @ 35%
SEO Codes:	13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1399 Other culture and society > 139999 Other culture and society not elsewhere classified @ 35% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1899 Other environmental management > 189999 Other environmental management not elsewhere classified @ 35% 17 ENERGY > 1705 Environmentally sustainable energy activities > 170599 Environmentally sustainable energy activities not elsewhere classified @ 30%
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