GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

The study was carried out to determine the impact of environmental degradation on the socio-economic development of Niger Delta: a study of Akwa Ibom State between 2010 and 2023. The region assumed the mainstays of Nigeria. Economy since the discovery and commercialisation of crude oil since 1957 and 1959, respectively. Akwa Ibom State, particularly,, is one of the statess in the region accounting for for 32% of the production output. This makes it the highest oil. Producers in the region. This result in making Akwa Ibom State identified with vast oil and gas, as well as other mineral resources, domicile in the region. Unfortunately, the availability of resources has made the Niger Delta a subject to diverse forms of degradation, which have impeded the socio-economic development of the region, and Akwa Ibom State in particular. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine the impacts of environmental depredation on socio-economic development of the State. The ecological footprint theory was used in the descriptive and surveying designs. The primary sources of data include questionnairere and interview were used for the study. The study was conducted in Southern region of the state with seven (7) selected local government areas. The sample size was 400,, while the sample technique was the purposive.. Sampling.  The study found that the effect of oil spillages on aquatic life in oil-producing communities in the State from 2010 to 2023 is significant. Additionally, it was discovered that Ecological degradation impacts negatively on agricultural activities, which affected crop yielding in oil producing communities in the State  in the corresponding years is significant  It was recommended that more stringent punitive be adopted in the oil related legislations to mitigate the extent of oil spillages in the region and Akwa Ibom State in particular.

Keyword:  Environment Degradation   Impacts Akwa Ibom State