CORRUPTION AND OIL EXPLOITATION IN THE NIGER DELTA USING HELON HABILA’S OIL ON WATERAND RUKY DIVINE OGEDE’S FESTERING WOUNDS.

This study explores the pervasive themes of corruption and oil exploitation in the Niger Delta as depicted in Helon Habila’s Oil on Water and Ruky Divine Ogede’s Festering Wounds.Through a literary ecocritical lens the research examines how both authors portray the environmental degradation,human suffering and systemic corruption that plague oil-rich communities.The texts reveal the complicity of government officials,multinational corporations, and militant groups in perpetuating sociopolitical instability and environmental injustice. Characters in both novels are usedas symbols of resistance, victimhood, andsurvival, highlighting the multifaceted consequences of oil wealth mismanagement. The study also identifies the silencing of whistleblowers and community voices as a critical element in sustaining corrupt systems. By comparing these two literary works, the research underscores the urgency for accountability, environmental justice, and ethical governance in resource management in the Niger Delta.