The oil-bearing communities of Abia State, Nigeria, in particular, and the Niger Delta region, in general, have been characterized for a long time now by enormous tension, agitation and militancy. Despite the huge revenues that have accrued to the Nigerian state and foreign oil companies, the communities where crude oil hydrocarbons are found and exploited have not fared well. They have grappled with development and sustainable livelihood challenges over time especially since oil production began in their domains. This book, which is lucid, assertive and authoritative, is a contribution to the search for solutions to these problems. It is confirmed that oil production operations have impacted significantly the sustainability of livelihoods in these communities. Moreover, the efforts of the government through the NDDC have not ensured that the livelihoods of the people remain sustainable. The book therefore is an invaluable manual for policy makers, development planners/practitioners, NGOs and others interested in bringing peace and development to the area. It is an incisive and revealing text to students and scholars due to the profundity of the evidence presented therein.