Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...
Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ... Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...
Dr. Afinotan L.A. and Dr. Victor Ojakorotu It will be correct to indicate that the greatest single environmental problem associated with the petroleum industry in contemporary Nigeria, result from off-shore and on-shore oil spillage. It is estimated that in over 40 years of oil exploration and production in Nigeria , over 60,000 spills have been recorded, and over 2,000,000 barrels were discharged into the regions eco-system from oil spillages alone between 1976 and 1996 (Ibid). In 1997 and 1998, shell petroleum company (SPDC) spilled 106,000 from its installations at Jones creek alone. In January 1998, Mobil recorded its worst spillage at the Idoho off-shore site which spread within 30 days from Akwa- Ibom to Lagos (op. cit). Within the first months of 2008 alone, Nigeria recorded 418 cases of oil spills. According to the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Halima Alao; This portends a great danger to us as a nation, and particularly to the environment and the social and economic well being of our people. (Vanguard, Oct. 29, 2008; 5). This is however a gross understatement of the severe implications of oil spillage to the region.According to Eyinla and Ukpo (Op. cit.). There are several specific impacts of oil spills relating to the destruction of wetlands. These include loss of fish, crustaceans and other aquatic resources, loss of livelihood through loss of fishing grounds and gears, 187
Chapter VIII: The Niger Delta Crisis: Issues Challenges and Prospects wildlife migration, destruction of farmlands, reduced agricultural productivity and yield, displacement of inhabitants, spread of water borne epidemics, to mention a few. All of these translate to hunger, grinding poverty and disease where there are neither hospitals nor herbal remedies which have in the mean time been rendered impotent by oil production. In addition, the innumerable gas flares which dot the Niger Delta landscape waters produce heat and light on a continuous basis, day and night. Not only can fish and fauna not breed under such conditions, they are also forced to migrate to more suitable waters elsewhere in the West African coast. Gas flaring is also associated with atmospheric and thermal pollution and the depletion of vegetation and wild life. According to Eyinla and Ukpo (Op. cit): Damages to buildings, acid rain formation, depletion of floral periodicity, discomfort to humans and danger of pulmonary disease epidemic are other environmental problems arising from gas flaring. The soil, rivers and creeks of Niger Delta, which used to be alkaline in nature 17-40 years ago, have now, become dangerously acidic. FAILED EXPECTATIONS In line with socio-economic practices in oil bearing communities worldwide, but especially in more advanced civilizations, discovery and exploitations of oil was always a welcome development for the 188
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Chapter VIII: The <strong>Niger</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Crisis</strong>: <strong>Issues</strong> Challenges and Prospects<br />
wildlife migration, destruction <strong>of</strong> farmlands, reduced agricultural<br />
productivity and yield, displacement <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants, spread <strong>of</strong> water<br />
borne epidemics, to mention a few. All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se translate to hunger,<br />
gr<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g poverty and disease where <strong>the</strong>re are nei<strong>the</strong>r hospitals nor<br />
herbal remedies which have <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mean time been rendered impotent<br />
by oil production.<br />
In addition, <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>numerable gas flares which dot <strong>the</strong> <strong>Niger</strong> <strong>Delta</strong><br />
landscape waters produce heat and light on a cont<strong>in</strong>uous basis, day<br />
and night. Not only can fish and fauna not breed under such<br />
conditions, <strong>the</strong>y are also forced to migrate to more suitable waters<br />
elsewhere <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> West African coast. Gas flar<strong>in</strong>g is also associated<br />
with atmospheric and <strong>the</strong>rmal pollution and <strong>the</strong> depletion <strong>of</strong><br />
vegetation and wild life. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Ey<strong>in</strong>la and Ukpo (Op. cit):<br />
Damages to build<strong>in</strong>gs, acid ra<strong>in</strong> formation,<br />
depletion <strong>of</strong> floral periodicity, discomfort to<br />
humans and danger <strong>of</strong> pulmonary disease<br />
epidemic are o<strong>the</strong>r environmental problems<br />
aris<strong>in</strong>g from gas flar<strong>in</strong>g. The soil, rivers and<br />
creeks <strong>of</strong> <strong>Niger</strong> <strong>Delta</strong>, which used to be<br />
alkal<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> nature 17-40 years ago, have<br />
now, become dangerously acidic.<br />
FAILED EXPECTATIONS<br />
In l<strong>in</strong>e with socio-economic practices <strong>in</strong> oil bear<strong>in</strong>g communities<br />
worldwide, but especially <strong>in</strong> more advanced civilizations, discovery<br />
and exploitations <strong>of</strong> oil was always a welcome development for <strong>the</strong><br />
188