Oil in the Niger Delta was first discovered in 1956 and has since been a problem for both the people of the region and for the environment. Numerous oil spills and the civil unrest they have caused contribute to the current instability in the Niger Delta. With the discovery of oil in this region was born the hope of economic development. We see today, almost 60 years later, that this has only created environmental, economic and social problems for the people of the region (Pegg, 2013). I will examine how the depletion of economic opportunities and environmental destruction are intertwined in the wake of the Niger Delta oil spills. One of the most significant social, economic and environmental problems in the region has been the destruction of local economies, and especially fisheries. Before the oil spills in the Niger Delta, approximately 80% of people in the region fished for a living, either as a full-time job or as a supplemental income (Pegg, 2013). Due to the highly polluted waters of the Niger Delta, fishing for a living is both highly unrealistic and extremely dangerous. The inability of families to fish for a living is directly linked to the declining level of education in the region. Not only do schools receive little or no money, but for families to support themselves, it is often necessary for every member, even children, to contribute to the family income. This often results in children being removed from school at a young age (Pegg, 2013). Lack of education, coupled with limited access to economic opportunities in the region, leaves people with few or no work opportunities. Legal alternatives include construction work, the death of mangrove wood and...... middle of paper ...... from which they live. We see these cases time and time again all over the world. Oil extraction in the Niger Delta has proven disastrous, both ecologically and for the livelihoods of people in this region. Fidelis, Allen. “The enemy within: oil in the Niger Delta”. Journal of World Policy 29.4 (2012): 46-53. EBSCO host. Internet. April 8, 2014. Goodman, Amy. "Nigerian protesters demand Shell clean up massive oil spill." Democracy now! Pacifica Network. New York, New York, January 3, 2012. Television. Pegg, Scott and Zabbey Nenibarini. “Oil and water: the Bodo spills and the destruction of traditional livelihood structures in the Niger Delta.” Journal of Community Development 48.3 (2013): 391-405. EBSCO host. Internet. April 8. 2014..