Oil pollution is primarily a manmade pollution and is a result of human irresponsible activities. Oil pollution and biodiversity conservation in nigeria. The region is blessed with abundance of human and physical resources, including the majority of nigeria s oil and. Oil pollution occurs when crude oil and its refined products are spilled into the environment by the activities of man. This paper examined the effects of oil pollution on the environment. The legislative framework regulating the nigerian oil industry, including the constitution of nigeria 1999, land.
The issue of oil spillage is a common phenomena in the niger delta region, more than any other part of nigeria. The most publicised of all oil spills in nigeria occurred on january 17 1980 when a total of. Over the years, oil exploration, production, and refinement in nigeria has resulted in various environmental and ecological problems that range from oil spills, gas flares, habitat destruction, air and water pollution, and land degradation. Oil exploration and poverty in the niger delta region of. According to nelson, 1999 pollution is said to occur when there is a release into the environment of substances and energy in quantities which are detrimental to man and other living organisms.
Indeed, it is one of the most significant environmental problems facing niger delta nigeria. Pdf oil pollution is without a doubt a serious issue in nigeria today. When the land is polluted by oil in this way, it makes growing crops very difficult. Oil spill can be caused by natural seepage, especially in the ocean, as tectonic plates shift, they may release oil from reserves trapped deep such as drilling beneath the ocean floor. Negligence in the niger delta amnesty international usa. The second part of the article will focus on the public regulation of the oil and gas industry in nigeria. Health risks associated with oil pollution in the niger delta. The oil companies operating in nigeria should be made to enter into a written agreement with the government on what they will do for the state in the case of oil spill and other serious environmental degradation that will reduce. Chapter 338 laws of the federation of nigeria 1990. Impacts and management of oil spill pollution along the. An overview of oil pollution and heavy metal concentration in warri. The human health implications of crude oil spills in the. Nigeria is located on the west coast of africa between the bight of benin to the.
Design methodologyapproach soil auger samples were collected at a depth of 015. Impacts and management of oil spill pollution along the nigerian coastal areas peter c. Technology has begun to solve some pollution problems, and public awareness of the extent of pollution will eventually make government bodies to be more proactive rather than. Oil pollution and water quality in the niger delta. Although in nigeria recent attacks on oil and gas installations by militant groups have led to a decline in the total production, the recorded production increase in some other countries has been huge. The human cost is horrific people living with pollution every day of their lives. Shell lawsuit re oil pollution in nigeria business. This assignment highlights the rising water pollution in nigeria as a. Oil spill influence on vegetation in nigeria and its determinants. Since the discovery of oil in nigeria, way back in1950s, the country has invariably suffered some negative environmental consequences such as oil pollution resulting from gas flaring and oil extraction, loss of mangrove trees, which before now was a source of livelihood for the indigenous people and habitat for the areas biodiversity. Mar 26, 2019 a man jumps across water dirtied by oil pollution in ogoniland, nigeria. Nigeria has the largest natural gas reserve in africa, has the second largest oil reserve in africa and is the african continents primary oil producer.
Most of the nigerian oil is extracted on the shelf of the gulf of guinea. The growth of the crude oil and natural gas production industry over the past few years has been dramatic. Ni in oilpolluted soils of two communities in warri, delta state, nigeria. Oil pollution has a detrimental effect on the ecosystem and its effect are usually very visible and sometimes very devastating. Oil spillage is a form of pollution, which involves the release of a liquid petroleum into the environment due to human activity. The report was commissioned by and delivered to the federal government of nigeria.
The management of oil spillage in the niger delta region of nigeria a dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of msc environmental management. Oil corporations in the niger delta seriously threaten the livelihood of neighboring local communities. Oil spillage is one of the greatest environmental problems, nigeria is currently battling with especially in the niger delta region. Environmental pollution, types, causes, impact and. Since nigeria discovered the black gold in oloibiri, bayelsa state in 1956 the environment has been wrought with oil spills which have caused the degradation of farmland and gradual destruction of aquatic life through the exploration and exploitation of crude oil. Impacts and management of oil spill pollution along the nigerian. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. We sought to associate the perspective measures of exposure to oil pollution with health. Niger delta of nigeria victor abaecheta akujuru a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of doctor of philosophy.
Udo, akwa ibom state, niger delta, nigeria, 30 january. It destroys the fertile soil, which makes it difficult for the farmer to farm as a means of livelihood, and the supply of agricultural produce is reduced as a result of poor crop yields. Sheen of oil on water bodies in the coastal region okeowo, 2014. The united nations environment programme unep released its environmental assessment of ogoniland in august 2011. The issue of water pollution goes beyond the top oil firms as even poor nigerians that try to get oil by means of finding access to oil pipelines can also be held responsible for water pollution. Evolution of environmental regulations in nigeria in response to the environmental problems, nigerias government has enacted the following regulations, which are aimed at mitigating impact of these problems. Gis, nigeria, oil spill, remote sensing, vegetation. Recommendations are given as guides for the activities of the nigerian national petroleum corporation in the prevention, control, and treatment. All over the world, environmental pollution is an issue of great concern because of what the environment, is to the human survival and indeed, the survival of the earth itself. Due to the many forms of oil generated environmental pollution evident throughout the region, farming and fishing have become impossible or extremely difficult in oil affected areas, and even drinking water has become scarce.
Oil spills might take several months or even years to clean up. Oil spillage is a global issue tha this paper aims to investigate the various environmental problems associated with oil exploration and spillage in specifically the niger delta in nigeria, as well as bring into perspective the environmental impact occurring in an important, reproductive wetland and marine ecosystem. The oil spills affected at least 1500 communities in the eight crude oil producing states in nigeria, and were mainly from the 5284 oil wells that were drilled as at 2006 and the 7000 km of crude oil pipeline that crisscrosses the niger delta region. Unep ogoniland oil assessment reveals extent of environmental contamination and threats to human health abuja the environmental restoration of ogoniland in nigeria could prove to be the worlds most wideranging and long term oil cleanup exercise ever undertaken if contaminated drinking water, land, creeks and important ecosystems such as.
In 2010 baird reported that between 9 million and million barrels have been spilled in the niger delta since 1958. Oil production is the main source of revenue in nigeria. Environmental pollution and sustainable development in nigeria. Bonga oil spill pollution of marine environment premium times, 2014104 figure 20. Public regulation of the oil and gas industry in nigeria. Data for nigeria included in the newly released little green data book 2015 indicates that 94% of the population is exposed to air pollution levels measured in pm2. Oil is the primary base of nigeria s economy and is also the cause of major environmental and social problems in the niger delta region of nigeria. In any other country, this would be a national emergency. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Abstract water pollution from crude oil spills in the mangrove ecosystem was investigated. In other words, the niger delta includes the states of abia, akwa ibom, bayelsa, cross river, delta, edo, imo, ondo and rivers. Destruction of fishes by oil pollution businessnews, december 21, 2011. Petroleum drilling and production regulation of 1969 amended in 1973 which holds that the licensee or leasee shall adopt all practical precautions to prevent the pollution of inland rivers, water course, the territorial water of nigeria or the seas by oil, mud or other fluids or substances that might cause harm to fresh water or marine life. An investigation by the nigerian environmental society in 1985 revealed that, between 1970 and 1983, offshore and onshore oil spillages amounted to 1,711, the equivalent of 354.
Impacts of oil exploration in niger delta nigeria research. The unep environmental assessment of ogoniland shell nigeria. In nigeria it appears to be standard operating procedure for the oil industry. The human rights impact of oil pollution in the niger delta. Although there is considerable public concern about the environmental impacts of oil pollution in the niger delta of nigeria, actual evidence on the pathological and psychological effects in the health of local communities is minimally known. Implications for the sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem. Environmental pollution, types, causes, impact and management. Inadequate monitoring and enforcement in the nigerian oil industry. Aug, 2016 oil pollution is most common in large water bodies like seas and oceans.
Jun 10, 2010 oil corporations in the niger delta seriously threaten the livelihood of neighboring local communities. Designmethodologyapproach soil auger samples were collected at a depth of 015. The environment provides man with the and food for his survival on earth, many activities of man have changed the natural constituents of the environment which portend danger to man and his environment pollution is the introduction of any substance at the rate faster. The government and policy makers can adopt the following measures to solve the problem of oil spillage in nigeria. Oil communities have been at the receiving end of this environmental problem. Afr 440172009 amnesty international june 2009 7 section i 1. As of the 1980s oil revenue provided 90% of nigeria foreign exchange earnings and 85% of the government revenue. Resource conflicts are prevalent in the niger delta, where oil exploration and extraction have had devastating impacts on the natural environment. Since crude oil was first discovered in nigeria in 1958, oil exploration has continued in the nigerdelta. The peak of its production came in the 1980s when the total output was 753. Marine water is especially affected by this form of pollution. Oil spill can be of two different categories the land spillage and the aquatic spillage but they all have a negative impact on both the environment and the society in general.
Pdf, epub, full text, audio unceasing customer service. According to nigerian government regulations, the oil companies, accompanied. In this article, weve listed 10 horrible effects of nigeria oil spill, hopefully, youll find it not just interesting but educating. This report is based on fieldwork carried out in the niger delta in march and april 2008, as well as desk research and f.
Total production from nigerias oil fields in the niger delta region increased from 308 million barrels in 1970 to 703,455 million barrels in 1991. Mining construction, operation and maintenances of an oil pipeline by a holder of oil prospecting licence spillage and pollution due to the negligence in the handing of oil wells whether deemed as having arisen from or connected with or pertaining to mines and minerals including oil fields and mining whether. Environmental impact assessment of oil and gas industry in by. This paper examines the environmental impact of oil spillage and degradation in the niger delta region of nigeria. Agency nosdra has certified as clean sites that are visibly contaminated. Environmental pollution takes place when the environment cannot process and neutralize harmful byproducts of human activities in due course without any structural or fun. International journal of environment and pollution research vol. Environmental issues, national environmental legislation and implementation of international environmental law aniefiok e. Impacts and effects of oil spillage in niger delta nigeria. Oil spill occurs due to the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the aquatic environment. One of these grievances related to environmental degradation caused by oil spills. Badejo abstract nigeria has a coastline of approximately 853km facing the atlantic ocean. The two major planks of the paper will be the policy trend prior to the advent of oil, the pattern since its evolution and the policy. Environmental impacts of oil exploration and exploitation in the niger delta of nigeria.
Nigerian government has failed to monitor the extent of the oil spills and. The oil spill at bodo 5, 2008 if you want to go fishing, you have to paddle for about four hours through several rivers. In lagos, nigeria, a plea for action against pollution. Pdf an overview of the legal framework for oil pollution.
Since nigeria discovered the black gold in oloibiri, bayelsa state in. Examining air pollution and control measures in urban centers. It is based on the above fact that this paper examines air pollution and control measures in urban centres of nigeria. Evaluation of the impacts of oil spill disaster on communities and. The niger delta region is the oil producing area of nigeria, which consists of highly diverse ecosystems that are supportive of numerous. Find out who is responsible for oil spillage in nigeria. Oil pollution distorts aquatic life which not only destroys the source of livelihood of fishers, but also causes a shortage of supply of seafood. Shell oil spills that havent been cleaned up for over eight years have contributed to astonishingly high levels of pollution in a nigerian community, according to a consultant who helped. Shell oil spills led to astonishingly high pollution in nigeria. Crude oil has been the mainstay of nigeria s economy and the major gdp since its commercial production in 1958 at oloibiri. Nigeria is a geographical area with a total land area of 983,2 km 2 and over 180 million people living in it. Environmental pollution usually occurs as a result of energy conversions and the use of resources which leaves their byproducts behind in water, soil or air. One of the greatest problems facing the niger delta region in nigeria is that of environmental pollution which causes great damages to the earth. Pdf petroleum industry and its pollution potential in nigeria.
Environmental impacts of oil exploration and exploitation. One source even calculates that the total amount of petroleum in barrels spilled between 1960 and 1997 is upwards of 100 million barrels 16,000,000 m 3. The two major planks of the paper will be the policy trend prior to the advent of oil. Shell lawsuit re oil pollution in nigeria the plaintiffs filed three separate lawsuits, each one addressing the impact of oil spillages in the three villages oruma, goi and ikot ada udo. It is the largest wetland and maintains the thirdlargest. Home to 20 million people and 40 different ethnic groups, this floodplain makes up 7. Oil pollution is without a doubt a serious issue in nigeria today. The economy of nigeria depends mainly on the oil and. This paper attempts to highlight the areas of impact of oil on economic policy formulation in nigeria, as well as the implications and indications of the possible way forward. In nigeria, the slow poisoning of the waters of the niger delta region and the destruction of vegetation and agricultural land by oil spills which occur during petroleum operation is beyond rhetoric.
Effects of oil spills on fish production in the niger delta plos. Nigerias national oil spill detection and response. Oil spills occur naturally by natural disaster, movement of tectonic plates and also as a result of inadequate trap system. Since nigeria discovered the black gold in oloibiri, bayelsa state in 1956, the environment has been wrought with oil spills which have caused the degradation of farmland and.
Environmental and economic impacts of crude oil and. Petroleum, pollution and poverty in the niger delta index. A man jumps across water dirtied by oil pollution in ogoniland, nigeria. Forestry act 1958, antiquities act 1958, territorial waters decree 1967, oil in navigable waters decree 1968, petroleum decree 1969. Most of the crude oil in nigeria comes from numerous, small, producing fields, located in the swamps of the niger delta, anambra state, benue state, trough, chad basin, and benin and product is exported through 7 terminals, and a number of floating production vessels.
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