Extractive Economies, Invisible Burdens: Reframing Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta as a Public Health Emergency

Rationale: The Niger Delta, one of the world’s most resource-rich regions, has long borne the negative impacts of oil extraction, resulting in persistent pollution, ecosystem collapse, and infrastructural neglect. These issues, while well-documented, are rarely framed as a public health emergency requiring systemic intervention. The region’s environmental degradation is not merely an ecological concern but a slow-moving public health crisis, driven by governance failures, regulatory fragmentation, and economic inequalities embedded in the extractive system. Objective: This study aims to reframe environmental degradation in the Niger Delta as a public health emergency and propose the Integrated Environmental-Health Accountability Framework (IEHAF) to address the multi-dimensional health impacts of pollution. The objective is to offer a new approach that links ecological damage to morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic hardship, while emphasizing interdisciplinary research and policy reform. Method(s): Drawing from environmental epidemiology, hydrochemistry, biodiversity loss, and health systems research, this paper synthesizes existing knowledge to develop the IEHAF framework. It focuses on three domains: (1) environmental toxicity and ecological collapse, (2) human exposure, vulnerability, and adaptation, and (3) institutional accountability and policy inertia. These domains guide an analysis of how pollution exposure leads to health inequities and long-term socioeconomic consequences. Results: The IEHAF framework emphasizes that pollution is not only an environmental issue but a central determinant of health inequity. By linking environmental, health, and economic systems, the framework provides a holistic view of the long-term effects of extractive practices. It reveals how institutional inertia and policy fragmentation have worsened the crisis, deepening intergenerational poverty. Conclusions: Reframing environmental degradation as a public health emergency is vital for shifting policy responses from reactive to proactive. IEHAF offers a structured approach to integrate environmental governance, health surveillance, and social protection, essential for sustainable development in the region. Recommendations: Policymakers must adopt IEHAF in regulatory frameworks, integrate health outcomes into extractive licensing, and ensure systematic health screenings for affected communities. Researchers should prioritize long-term evaluations of IEHAF, while civil society should advocate for community-led environmental monitoring and corporate accountability. Significant Health Statement: Chronic exposure to pollutants in the Niger Delta leads to long-term health burdens, including gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory diseases, and neurological damage. The IEHAF framework emphasizes the need for early intervention, health surveillance, and integrated policies to protect vulnerable populations, making the recognition of pollution as a central health determinant both a policy necessity and a moral imperative.