AMAMIHE Journal of Applied Philosophy

The contemporary issues on environmental pollution and degradation are demanding the revitation of the values of the human person as a subject of lived-experience in relation to all aspects of creation. It is on recognition that most of the effects of environmental pollution and degradation are results or products of human activities (actions) in and on the environment-through the increasing quests for industrialization, urbanization and technological civilization, especially in mining, military engagements, nuclear weapon testing, oil-exploration. It is on conviction that Gareth Hardin came up with ethics of lifeboat- an ethical principle which state the importance for the recognition of the fact that one’s activities on the environment have the capacity to affect the wholeness of human community. Relating this principle to the oil-exploration activities that is now oil exploitation activities in the Niger-Delta region by some national and multinational corporatons and the litanies of illegal refineries, ausing a lot of oil spilages and gas flaming, are greatly affecting lives and livelihood in the region. Adopting a expository and phenomenological methods of analysis, the paper concludes that, all persons, groups and corporations involves in the oil exploration, better still, oil exploitation in the Niger-Delta Region, should be conscious of the values of the human person and recognize the indispensable connectivity of the human person in the society. With this caution, we should remember that the environment is the boat that all humanities are sealing with in the journey of existence and living, and what happen to a part of the environment, which in this case, the Niger-Delta Region, will indispensably happen to the whole Nigerian society. Therefore, there are needs for moral or ethical checks on natures and contents of human activities on the environment as a remedy to overcoming environmental pollution and degradation and advancing the couses of environmental sustainability. 

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