News Media and Environmental Policy: The Case of the Niger Delta Crises

The article examines the Nigerian media coverage of the devastation and environmental impact of decades of oil spills in the Niger Delta. Using the agenda setting approach as a conceptual framework, the analysis aims to uncover the role played by the media in the environmental policy process. The article begins with a discussion of the modus operandi of various media outlets in reporting the nature and scope of oil spill. This is followed by a review of the national government’s effort in managing and reducing the incidents of oil spill on the environment and the affected communities. On the basis of issues identified, the analysis offers some recommendations for all the actors involved in the environmental policy, and concludes by encouraging the media to continually publicize the causes and consequences of oil spill to mobilize the citizens to petition the federal government to enact good regulatory policies to contain environmental degradation of the Delta region.