A Presentation on Environmental Injustice in the Niger Delta By Rev. Fr. Edward Osang OBI, msp
INTRODUCTION ➢ The discovery of oil and gas in the Niger Delta in the early 50s came as a blessing to Nigeria. ➢ Petroleum exploration and production in the Nigeria’s Niger Delta region and export of oil and gas resources by the petroleum sector has improved the nation’s economy since the first shipment of oil out of Nigeria in 1958. ➢ Poor standards of operation by both international and marginal operators have led to untold environmental pollution in the region. ➢ Host communities have been bypassed by the industry that feeds the very rich and cares nothing of the poor. ➢ The situation is almost hopeless but thanks to the efforts of the Catholic Bishops from the Niger Delta region and other Civil Society organizations; some critical understandings are now being reached with regard to the clean-up of the region beginning with the most sensitive ecosystems.
THE SUCCESS STORY OF OIL EXPLORATION IN NIGERIA • Nigeria currently ranks as Africa's largest producer of oil and the 6th largest oil producing country in the world. • In 47 years (1961 – 2014), up to 32.70 billion barrels of crude oil valued at N118.49 trillion were produced. • Nigeria has a maximum crude oil production capacity of up to 2.5 million barrels per day and has reserves of over 37.2 billion barrels.
BEHIND THE SUCCESS STORY Serious environmental degradation of the oil producing region, the Niger Delta, arising from: ➢ Oil Spills ➢ Gas Flaring ➢ Effluent Discharge ➢ Toxic wastes mismanagement ➢ Poor regulation by the government ➢ Lack of access to justice by host communities
OIL SPILLS IN NIGERIA Source: Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor (www.oilspillmonitor.ng)
OIL SPILLS IN THE NIGER DELTA
OIL SPILLS IN THE NIGER DELTA
STATISTICS OF OIL SPILLS IN THE NIGER DELTA S/N Year of Spill Number of Oil Number of Spills Spills Remediated 1 2010 861 0 2 2011 1033 9 3 2012 1096 211 4 2013 1691 9 5 2014 1546 55 6 2015 923 0 7 2016 615 3 8 2017 380 18 9 2000 till Date 11,488 308 Source: Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor ➢ More than 97% of the oil spills from 2000 till date have not remediated
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FROM OIL SPILLS AND GAS FLARING ➢ Most of the spill sites which the oil companies claimed to have remediated are still highly contaminated. ➢ Many communities’ drinking water bodies contain dangerous concentrations of benzene and other highly toxic and carcinogenic pollutants. ➢ Many water bodies are coated with hydrocarbons more than 1,000 times the level allowed by Nigerian drinking water standards. ➢ There is high contamination of soil, sediments and aquifers by petroleum hydrocarbons from spills and acid rain caused by gas flaring. ➢ Increase in temperature (climate change), human health problems arising from gas flaring (respiratory diseases, eye defects, birth defects, etc) are a common consequence of gas flaring.
OIL SPILLS IN THE NIGER DELTA Drinking water sources badly contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons; there are no alternative water supplies by the government or oil companies.
GAS FLARING IN NIGERIA ➢ 222 Gas Flare points in Nigeria and 99% are concentrated in the Niger Delta alone. Source: Nigerian Gas Flare Tracker (www.gasflaretracker.ng)
POLLUTION FROM THE GAS SECTOR Video: Gas pollution and environmental abuse
OTHER ISSUES ARISING FROM ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE ➢ Militancy ➢ Jungle justice ➢ Oil theft and facility sabotage ➢ Infertility in both male and female ➢ High infant mortality ➢ Decrease in life expectancy
PICTURE GALLERY OF POLLUTION SITES
PICTURE GALLERY OF POLLUTION SITES
PICTURE GALLERY OF POLLUTION SITES
PICTURE GALLERY OF POLLUTION SITES
PICTURE GALLERY OF POLLUTION SITES
PICTURE GALLERY OF POLLUTION SITES
CONCLUSION ➢ Environmental Injustice has led to serious health, economic and social decay, especially in host communities. ➢ All oil spills and gas flaring are bad: bad for local communities; bad for the environment; bad for Nigeria; and bad for the companies. ➢ It is very necessary to urgently clean up all spill sites in the Niger Delta communities. ➢ Gas flaring should be discouraged and stopped at all cost, and the land restored to its original state because the people are dying slowly. ➢ Help is needed from the international communities to navigate Nigeria towards a cleaner oil and gas industry.
NUMEROUS OTHER VIDEOS AND PICTURES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ARE AVAILABLE OVER THE WORLDWIDE WEB
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