Environmental degradation and food security effects: evidence from the crude oil spillage in Nigeria

There are increasing concerns over the environmental impact of oil spills, given the over-reliance on this source of energy in developing countries. The effects of oil spillage range from impacts on agricultural productivity to issues of food security. Meanwhile, the charges associated with alternative energy sources and increased budget pressure may make transitioning toward sustainability very difficult for households and the economy as a whole. Therefore, with Nigeria as a focus, this study investigates whether crude oil spillage in household locations affects local-level food security in Nigeria. We geographically match new spatial data from the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on oil spill locations over the period 2010–2016 with approximately 5000 households from three Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) surveys conducted over the same period. Specifically, we used repeated rounds (post-planting and post-harvest) over 2010/2011, 2012/2013, and 2015/2016. The findings consistently show an increase in food insecurity experiences for households around spillage sites compared to residents in locations without any crude oil spill.