Who Should Be Blamed for Environmental Ruin in Nigeria - Case Study Example

Who should be blamed for environmental for environmental ruin in Nigeria: the Government or Foreign Oil Corporation? Abstract Oil is an exceptionally treasured resource; countries possessing this natural resource are taken to be privileged. It has been a common thing to find countries fighting over oil resources and such conflicts often result in disruption of the environment. The progression of oil mining, if not well managed, can result in environmental damage. Oil spills have cause irreparable damages in the natural habitats and wildlife. It causes disruption of human, animal and plant populations. Pollution caused by dumping of oil waste is a major threat to biodiversity. The effect of oil spillage on the marine life cannot be ignored. Both the physical properties and chemical properties of the oil have caused the death of many marine flora and fauna (Agyeman, 424). Introduction Nigeria, being a major oil producer, has not escaped these predicaments. The case is abundantly evident in the Niger delta region of Nigeria where oil mining is mostly practiced. Farmers have watched their source of livelihood taken away by oil pollution. Many of the tribes around are traditionally anglers, but the oil spillage has caused considerable reduction in number of fish in the river Niger. Nigeria is the land that has been endowed with both fertile agricultural lands and a rich oil resource. Major oil companies, including Shell, established mines in this country in 1950s. Since then, the oil mining activities have slowly damaged the natural habitats of the country through pollution of water, land and air. The effects have been this extensive that the livelihood of the Ogoni people who have lived in the Niger Delta for over 500 years is threatened. This paper focuses on how failure of the government to enact policies guarding the degradation of the environment has contributed to the state of environment in the Niger delta. Water pollution Water pollution on the Niger Delta because of oil mining activity has been widespread. Industrial wastes are released into the river, and accidental oil spillage have caused the death of fish in the delta. It has also had a major effect on the aquatic natural ecosystem. This has made fishing, an economic activity practiced by the Ogoni community, to be uneconomically viable. Ground water has become contaminated and the people cannot dig up wells to get drinking water. Rainwater is also not safe to drink, as it falls in the form of acidic rain. This acidic rain greatly reduces the fertility of the soil, making it inviable for agricultural production. It is unfortunate that there is no piped water for people living in the region. Human right activists say that the foreign oil company has taken the people’s right to access to safe water. The government has instituted legislations that require mud drilled from mines to be confined in wells or landfills, avoiding seepage in developed countries. The Nigerian government lacks such legislation, and the foreign corporation dumps its drilling wastes directly into the rivers. Air pollution Oil mining has largely contributed to the air pollution in the area around the Niger delta. Flaring of natural gas methane is conducted near people’s homes, producing carbon dioxide fumes and soot. The release of this gas causes a lot of pollution associated with diseases, such as asthma and lung cancer. This flaring has also caused stunted growth of crops in nearby farms. This is because the soot settles on the leaves of plant inhibiting photosynthesis and transpiration, and this has caused reduced crop yields from nearby farms. Oil spills and wastelands The most evident type of pollution is land pollution that is caused by oil spills. Oil spills causes degradation of the top soil by leaching of nutrients and adding toxic chemicals in the soil, making them unsuitable for plant growth. This oil spills cause destruction of vegetation and pollutes water, if released in the water bodies. There are several pumping stations and several pipes running though the land around the Niger Delta. Shell, which is the major oil corporation in Nigeria, has caused the largest number of oil spills. The methods used in cleaning up have been insufficient in relation to the big damage that they have caused. Most forests and farmlands are covered with a green layer of oil. This is attributed by the recklessness and ignorance of the oil companies. The villagers report oil spills as soon as they happen but the corporation takes even months to monitor the situation. An example of such negligence was demonstrated in May of the last year when a major oil spillage occurred in the state of Akwa Ibom after a spill from pipeline owned by ExxonMobil Company. Several gallons were spilled in a period of over seven days when the leakage was stopped. Local individuals demonstrated against this spillage but were stopped by security guards. The owners of the farms that were destroyed have received no compensation so far. In Nigeria, the foreign corporation shows a lot of ignorance in dealing with the oil spillage and the law makers are not bothered, leaving the local people to deal with the effects of pollution on a daily basis. It is sad that people are denied of their only livelihood, as they rely on the environment to get their water and food (MBA 140). It is difficult to get a right estimate of the amount of spillage that corporations have caused. This is because the companies and the government do not disclose such information. However, a report compiled by representatives from Nigeria Conservation foundation, Nigeria Federal Government, world conservation union and the WWF UK shows that in 2006 alone, 1.5 tons of oil was spilled. This is 50 times the amount of oil spillage in Alaska’s Exxon Valder tanker disaster. It also indicated that in a period of 1970-2000, 7,000 spills were recorded; there were around 2,000 official sites of spillage dating several decades backwards and several thousand smaller spillages that had not yet been cleared up. Approximately 1,000 spillage cases have been filed against Shell. The corporation has been accused of causing widespread ecological instability, coming from the explosion of seismic researches, refinery waste, drilling effluents, blowouts ant disruption of the natural habitat and outlook by installation of infrastructure in the landscape (Ikein et al 35). In its defense Shell, which works closely with the Nigerian government in the Delta region, says that most of the spillage is cause by theft, sabotage or vandalism and negligible amounts are because of faulty infrastructure. It also asserted that sometimes the community blocks cleanup efforts, as they benefit more from compensation than from the clean ups. It is also declared that it has a full time response team for oil spills and explores all viable means in cleaning up, even using microbes to clear pollution. These claims are, however, just lip services, according to environment watchdogs and communities living in the Niger Delta region. They say that the company has not replaced the equipment that they first put in place in the 1950s. The wellheads are dilapidated, the pipes are rusty and storage tanks and pumping stations are in no better state. At times, the spills are because of deliberate release. The current trends shows that the amount of oil spillage is going to increase further, as the corporations explore other oil sources with more rough terrains where management of oil spillages will be difficult (Ikien et al 79). Destruction of rainforest Oil wells in Nigeria are found in areas covered with forests. It would be possible to extract oil from this area, using environmental friendly techniques that keep the environment as pristine as possible; a process that requires time and money. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government lacks such capital. It gives foreign companies the contract to extract oils from these areas. Such company exploits the resources with little consideration of the environment or even the welfare of the native people. Most often than not, they leave the landscape in a devastated state (Agyeman, 234). Should the foreign Corporation Then Take All the Blame for the Environmental Degradation? The Nigerian government is responsible for the total environmental damage that has been experienced in Nigeria. It has the role of coming up with policies for protecting its people but has failed. The government should be in control, as it gives the foreign corporations drilling permit and should institute strict terms and conditions of operation. Failure to follow the terms should lead to the corporations losing their contracts or being heavily fined. However, the government bent on making money from the oil industry that contributes around 90% of its total budget and ignored the effect this operation has on the environment (Ikein et al 140). There is extensive corruption within the Nigerian government. Some of the officials embezzle money from the corporations meant for compensation of the people and for cleanup purposes. The foreign corporation also bribes the government officials, so that they can get away with breaches of their contracts. The government keeps its contracts with these foreign corporations a secret. The financial aspects of the contract are only known to the corporation, the government and a few individuals working with the oil companies. The establishment of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act in 2007 has had no major impact on the way the contracts are handled. It should be noted here that the degradation of the environment is not because of lack of laws and regulation. It is because of the government failure to enact them for its own selfish reasons. Besides the issue of corruption, the government is a shareholder of these companies and, therefore, is not an independent regulator, since it has major interests in the operations (Abiri, 258). Conclusion The process of oil extraction, if not well handled, can result in a lot of mess and losses. People in countries rich with oil receive no benefits from the oil extraction. On the contrary, the process has brought devastating effects on them. This is the case of Egoni people inhabiting the Niger Delta. They have received little benefits from the Shell Company as compared to the damage of their land. The process has had unfavorable effects on their health, their environment, homes and even culture. They have lost almost everything and now rely on sabotage of the oil infrastructure in making a living. However, the foreign companies should not take the whole blame for the state of things. The Nigerian government officials are corrupt and have embezzled funds given by the corporation for compensations (Agyeman, 23). Recommendations It is obvious that the people living around the Niger delta have been exposed to many environmental risks. Agricultural land and fisheries are no longer an option for this people. The main responsibility of a government is to provide security and safety to its people. The federal government of Nigeria has failed terribly in its rush to get money from oil extraction. The foreign corporations, on the other hand, are only interested in generating income. To arrest the situation, the Nigerian government needs to come up with a policy that allows sustainable oil extraction that has environment conservation measures in it. It should also be strict in implementation of those measures (Abiri et al, 56). The foreign corporations should also put a lot of effort in developing these areas. They should provide alternative economically viable options for the native people; this would keep them from sabotaging the corporation’s equipment. Together with the government, they should rehabilitate the environment restoring its original state (MBA, 234). Works Cited Abiri, K., Emiri, F., & Deinduomo, G. Law and petroleum industry in Nigeria: Current challenges : essays in honour of Justice Kate Abiri. Lagos: Malthouse Press, 2008. Print. Agyeman, Julian, Robert D. Bullard, and Bob Evans. Just Sustainabilities: Development in an Unequal World. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2003. Print. Ikein, Augustine A., D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha, and Steve S. Azaiki. Oil, Democracy, and the Promise of True Federalism in Nigeria. Lanham, Md: University Press of America, 2008. Print. MBA, H. C. (2004). Management of environmental problems and hazards in Nigeria. Aldershot, Ashgate. Print. Read More