The impact of oil-bunkering ‘kpo-fire’ in Nigeria: a gender perspective

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria suffers from environmental degradation due to fossil fuel extractions such as crude oil, leading to environmental and social injustices. This research paper explores the impact of this ecological degradation on the Bodo community in Ogoni land, Rivers state, Nigeria, looking at how kpo-fire (a local name for illegal refinery or artisanal refinery) shapes the behavior of the people living in the community. It specifically examines the gendered dynamics of these impacts with a focus on the women who are related to the men who engage in the kpo-fire. The RP examines the way men and women understand the impact of the kpo-fire. Utilizing Feminist political ecology, the paper goes below the more visible impact of kpo-fire, such as ecological degradation and economic livelihoods, to the ‘invisible,’ which includes women’s knowledge, embodied experiences, and emotions concerning kpo-fire. Using story-telling, conversations, and in-depth unstructured interviews, the research paper serves as a vehicle to bring the voice of the marginalized women to the centre of the story of kpo-fire. Using a first-person narrative, pictures, and live videos, the research paper aims to capture the experiences of women, how kpo-fire emerged, the community concerns, and possible economic alternatives.