Impact of Oil Spills on the Livelihood of Bodo Community in Rivers State, Nigeria

This study assesses the impact of oil spills on livelihoods in Bodo Community, Rivers State, Nigeria, employing a mixed-method research design with 384 survey respondents and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that a vast majority of respondents (87.2%) reported experiencing the effects of oil spills in their communities. Economically, fishing was identified as the most affected livelihood (54.7%), followed by farming (22.4%) and trading/business (14.1%). A significant proportion of households (78.4%) experienced a decline in income, with 45.1% reporting a significant decrease. In response, many households adopted alternative income sources such as petty trading (38.5%) and daily labor (30.2%), while others relied on government support (18.8%) or had no alternative (12.5%). Social impacts included a reduction in community events (50%), population displacement (16.67%), and contamination of public spaces (33.33%). While 30.25% of respondents observed a major disruption in communal interactions, 25% believed that oil spills had strengthened community solidarity. The study underscores the complex consequences of oil pollution, highlighting both vulnerability and resilience among affected populations. It emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, sustainable livelihood support, and environmental remediation in oil spill-affected areas.