The Niger Delta has remained the epicentre of hydrocarbons exploration activities for over six decades. During this period, the oil companies’ operations have had severe adverse impact on the environment, arising from unabated oil spillages and massive gas flaring. All these have happened despite existing plethora of laws that are aimed at precluding the environment from adversely been impacted by hydrocarbons extraction activities. Though hydrocarbons operations are not without some pitfalls, the paper argues that the Niger Delta situation was State-created. It contends that the situation was due to the State’s sole reliance on hydrocarbons revenues to fund its budget; and the incomparable position of NNPC the joint ventures partner in relation to the oil multinationals.