Oil Spillage in Niger-Delta Area of Nigeria - Environmental Issues - Term Paper Example

Oil spillage in Niger-Delta Area of Nigeria - Environmental Issues (Insert names) (Institution) (Instructor’s name) (Insert date) Introduction Nigeria has a coastline of about 853 KM alongside the Atlantic Ocean. This area is low lying and is covered by lagoonal mashes, beach ridges, mangrove swamps, sand bars and fresh water swamps (Dublin-Green et al., 1997). This coastal area consists of four discrete geomorphological units, which include the Mud coast, the Barrier-Lagoon complex, the Strand coast, and the Arcuate Niger delta (Ibe, 1998). Vegetation is also present and is characterized by rain forests, mangrove forests and brackish swamp forests. Nigeria’s coastal zone is also richly endowed with diverse minerals such as oil and gas. Massive exploration of these minerals has been undergoing in this area since the first shipment of crude oil in 1958. As a result, there has been a discovery of various oil fields and establishment of oil terminals in the area (Ozobia, 1998). The crude oil reserve is estimated to be more than 25 billion barrels, and crude oil production is approximately 2.2 million barrels per day. However, the Nigerian Government has a plan to increase the reserve capability to 30 billion barrels. The Nigerian National Corporation places large volumes (about 300 million barrels individual spills) into the environment on a yearly basis. Baird (2010) highlighted that approximately 9 to 13 million barrels of oil spills have been spilled into the Niger Delta from 1958. This report seeks to detail the major causes of oils spills in the Niger Delta, the effects of such spills and the control measures that have been adopted to combat such incidents. Causes of oil spillage Oil spillage is categorized into four groups namely, disaster, major, medium and minor. Disaster spillage occurs due to storage tank failure or pipeline rupture, posing disastrous effects to public welfare. In the case of major spill, discharge to inland water is above 250 barrels on coastal, land or offshore waters, while medium spills take place when the spill is 250 barrels or below in inland water, or 2 500 to 250 barrels on offshore, land or coastal waters. Minor spills occur when oil discharge is below 25 barrels in inland waters or below 250 barrels on coastal, offshore or land waters, which poses minimal threats to the welfare of the public (Ntukekpo, 1998). Oil spillage occurs due to damage or corrosion of storage tanks or pipelines, lack of proper care during the process of oil production, and as a result of accidents oil tankers encounter. It is rated that approximately 50 per cent of the total oil spills occur as a result of corrosion, 28 per cent happen due to damages to storage tanks and pipelines and 21 per cent take place due to carelessness in oil production processes and procedures. One per cent of the oil spills occur as a result of engineering drills, failure of machines, lack of proper care when loading and unloading oil containers and inability to control oil wells effectively. The main reason as to why corrosion accounts for such a high percentage of oil spills in the country is due to the relatively small size of the oil fields found in the Niger Delta. Therefore, there exists an extensive network of oil pipelines between the fields. In addition, there are numerous small networks of flow lines, and the oil pipes have narrow diameters and as they transport oil from the wellheads to flow stations, many opportunities are presented for leakage. Furthermore, most of the oil pipes and flow lines in the onshore areas are laid above the ground, providing more opportunities for corrosion. Most of the pipelines have a lifespan of about fifteen years and since many of the pipelines are as old as twenty to twenty fives years, most of them are corroded. A greater percentage of the country’s oil pipes and tankers are very old and require regular maintenance and inspection. Shell, one of the petroleum dealers is ready to admit that most of the facilities are very old since they were constructed between the 1960s to the 1980s and are still in use today; therefore, such facilities require inspection and maintenance. Thousands of oil barrels have spilled into the environment through eroded oil pipes and tanks. For instance, there was a recent major oil spill at Idaho, an offshore platform in the country’s southeastern region, where approximately 40,000 barrels of oil leaked into the environment. Another major cause of oil spillage in the country is sabotage. This is whereby the inhabitants try to tap the oil pipelines and in the process of oil extraction, they sometimes cause damage or destroy the pipelines leading to oil leakages. The inhabitants of the Niger Delta area take part in oil bunkering, and in turn damage and tear down oil pipes as they try to collect oil from the pipes. This has become a major issue because the damaged pipelines can go for days unnoticed, and to make things worse, the process of repairing the damaged pipes often takes a long time. It is also worth noting that the Nigerian regulations covering the oil industry are weak and are rarely applied. This gives the industry the opportunity to regulate itself. The industry puts little efforts on evaluating its impacts to the environment, but concentrates more on the economic gains. This is probably the reason why such issues like oil spillage as a result of lack of pipeline and storage tanks inspection take place. Issues like Oil theft and sabotage through oil siphoning could also be easily tackled if legal regulations were in place. Effects of oil spills Environmental degradation as a result of oil spill on the Niger delta region has accelerated poor health, economic and social repercussions for its citizens, for more than three decades. Oil spill has been connected with reduced crop yield, low land productivity and reduced farm income, health problems and contamination of marine shorelines killing marine animals among other harmful effects. Due to the poor nature of oil procedures in the Niger delta, the environment is resulting to be increasingly not fit to live in. In order to reduce the continued environmental degradation of the Niger delta, activists recommend for enactment and enforcement of strict environmental laws to protect the region as well as policy implementation to mitigate the high level of poverty caused by oil spillage (Oshineye, 2000). Loss of mangrove forests In the Niger delta, vegetation comprises of widespread mangrove forests, rain forests, and brackish swamp forests. Mangrove forests are estimated to cover about 5000 to 8580 km2 and remain very essential to the indigenous population of Nigeria and other organisms that inhabit in them. The accelerated pollution caused by the oil spill together with poor land management has resulted in the disappearance of approximately 5-10 percent of these forests. The explosive, quickly penetrating, and gelatinous property of petroleum has wiped out large vegetation areas. This is more so when spills take place within and close to the drainage basin. This causes the hydrologic force of the tides and river to force spilled petroleum to move towards the vegetation areas causing drastic effects. Mangrove forests are comprised in a complex trophic system. It is true that, if oil affects an organism in an ecosystem, it can also affect other organisms. These communities depend on clean water, nutrient cycling, proper substrates and sunlight. With ultimate conditions, they provide a good habitat and energy input to the organisms they interrelate with. The consequences of oil spills on mangrove is to stop cellular respiration, acidify the soils and malnourish roots for essential oxygen resulting to reduced crop yield, low land productivity and reduced farm income, thus increasing poverty among the indigenous people. The loss of mangrove forests as a result of oil spill is also degrading human life. Mangrove forests are known to provide wood to the indigenous people, habitat to the endangered species and their disappearance is a major threat. There has been political unrest in Nigeria as a result of poor policy decisions concerning the distribution of petroleum revenues. This clash amongst oil corporations, governing bodies, and Nigerian population has led to damage of oil pipelines, aggravating the effects to mangrove forests. Depletion of marine animals The fish industry is regarded as a significant part of Nigeria’s sustainability as it provides the required nutrients to the population. Fish population is decreasing as a result of the increased fish demands. Therefore, there is a need to create aquaculture in order to increase jobs among the local people and reduce the rate of depletion. Marine communities are not only affected by pollution from the oil spill but also by climate change, and over fishing. Oil pollution is connected with increased loss of marine animals especially fish, which as a result affects the livelihood of the citizens (Prince, 1993). This results from utilization of dissolved oxygen by bacteria that feeds on the spilled hydrocarbons. Also, due to interruption of gaseous exchange in the waters as a result of oil spill, oxygen levels are lowered thus lessening the life span of marine inhabitants. If left untackled, the issue of oil spill will lead to reduction of the fish. Health Most people in the affected regions complain about health problems. These include skin lesions, breathing problems and cancer. As a result of oil spill, the indigenous populations in the Niger delta have lost essential human rights including access to food and clean water, health, and ability to work. Economic resources Oil spillage also leads to loss of economic resources by the government. After spillage, oil is slowly recovered as it is dispersed by the combination of wind, tides, and current thus, spreading in to thin films which dissolves in water. Later, photochemical oxidation takes place which results to its decomposition (Niger Delta Environmental Survey, 1997). Poverty In general, oil spillage leads to poverty that is caused by environmental hazards among the population. As discussed above, oil spillage affects the marine animals, crop production, and the entire ecosystem; most of these activities are relied on by most people as a source of income and livelihood. The depletion of these activities is seen to accelerate levels of poverty. Management of oil spills in Nigeria The future of floral communities and that of the mangrove forests needs to be protected. Local and international populations have offered labour and funds to remediate and re-establish the destroyed mangrove forests. Additionally, the Nigeria’s federal government set up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2000 that aims at suppressing the ecological and environmental impacts oil has had in the Niger delta (Nwilo, 2000). Non government and governmental organizations have also used technology to make out the source and movement of oil spills. Biological remediation has been implemented to control oil pollution. This is the use of microorganism metabolism to get rid of the pollutants. This technology has already been applied in most areas of the delta region to detoxify and reinstate the ecosystems that have been hampered by oil spills (Janice, 2010). Research studies show that Ogbogu, one of the regions found in the oil producing area shows that two plant species were used to clean up the spills. The first stage of the clean up process makes use of the Hibiscus cannabis that has high absorbency rate, to absorb the oil. This plant is often laid down on the surface of the water to absorb the oil. After the plant is saturated, it is then removed and taken to a safe location where the saturated hydrocarbons are broken down and further detoxified by microorganisms. The second stage involves a perennial grass species known as Vetiveria zizanioides that has the ability to endure the chemicals in the soil, and has the ability to detoxify soils after sometime hence requiring little maintenance. Bioremediation is applied to improve soil conditions, the quality of drinking water and the health status of the surrounding population. Increased awareness regarding controlling and prevention of oil spills in Nigeria led to the formation of the Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA). This is an association of about eleven companies from Nigeria. This association has a goal of maintaining the capability of mitigating oil spills and liquid hydrocarbons and other pollutants. In an effort to combat pollution resulting from oil spills, the Environmental Impact Assessment decree No 86 was promulgated in 1992 to sustain and protect ecosystems. This decree requires that any major project that may have impacts on the environment to undergo compulsory EIA (Ntukekpo, 1996; Olagoke, 1996). According to Ozekhome (2001), the guidelines in this decree made provisions for safety measures, offshore operations, liability and compensation. Various laws controlling the oil industry also exists in Nigeria. Most of these established laws offer a frame work for petroleum exploitation and exploration. Nevertheless, just a portion of these laws offer guidelines on the concerns of oil pollution. Currently, as per the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), the following pertinent international agreements and laws are in effect. Though these regulations are weak, they are intended to control the oil industry which as a result will guard how they undertake their exploitation and exploration operations thus reducing the possibilities of oil spillage (Salu, 1999). Some of these laws include: Endangered Species Decree Cap 108 LFN 1990. Federal Environmental protection Agency Act Cap 131 LFN 1990. Harmful Waste Cap 165 LFN 1990. Petroleum (Drilling and Production) Regulations, 1969. Mineral Oil (Safety) Regulations, 1963. International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 Convention on the Prevention of Marine pollution Damage, 1972 African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources,1968 International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for the Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971. To save the Niger delta from future spills and contamination, satellite imagery can be used together with the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to quickly identify and track incidents of oil spills. A successful process to combat the oil spills highly depends on a rapid response from the period the oils spill is identified to the time such an incident is fully combated. Therefore, with the use of the Geographic Information System, information on the exact location and extent of the oil spillage can be plotted on the GIS maps, and a priority to mitigate can be carried out. This tool can also identify the type of operations that are required to mitigate the identified incident (Mikala, 1995). Clean up techniques meant to reduce the amount of oil in waters can also be organized. This involves using group of chemicals (chemical dispersants) that are intended to be sprayed on the petroleum slicks, to speed up the procedure of natural dispersion. The use of these dispersant depends on the regulations of the nation. When the mechanical recovery seems to be unachievable, other methods of removing oil from the surface of the sea should be implemented (Hoff, 1993). Conclusion Oil spillage has occurred various times in the Niger delta due to increase in oil exploitation and exploration actions. The major causes of oil spills in Nigeria include carelessness and sabotage of pipes during production operations. The oil spillage is connected with enormous impacts including environmental degradation and poverty among the indigenous population. Additionally, there has been loss of lives, and destruction of coastal habitats and ecology, pollution of clean water and regional and ethnic crises in the region. This has resulted to calls for control of resources by oil producing states in Nigeria. In order to mitigate the effects of oil spillage, various laws have been put in to effect while government and non-governmental organizations have put forward various measures to control the same (Olagoke, 1996). The oil industry is blamed of sharp double standard while carrying out its operations. The industry is blamed of taking advantage of the weak regulations and lack of environmental law, while monitoring higher standards of maintenance and safety abroad. References Baird, J., 2010. "Oil's Shame in Africa". Newsweek: 27. Dublin-Green C.O., Awobamise A. and Ajao E.A., 1997. Large Marine Ecosystem Project for the Gulf Of Guinea (Coastal Profile of Nigeria). Lagos: Nigeria Institute of Oceanography. Encyclopedia Americana, 1994. International Edition, Grolier Incorporated. Hoff, R., 1993: Bioremediation: An Overview of its Development and use for Oil Spill Clean up. Mar. POLLUT. Bull. 26, 476-481. Ibe, A.C., 1988: Coastline Erosion in Nigeria. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press. Janice, L., 2002. Indigenous Plants to the Rescue Environmental remediation in Nigerian oil regions, Science in Africa, Available at http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/february/oil.htm. (Accessed on March 8, 2011) Mikala K., 1995. Use of GIS as a Tool for Operational Decision Making, Implementation of a National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan for Estonia. Carl Bro Internationals, Glostrup, Denmark. Niger Delta Environmental Survey, 1997. Environmental and Socio-Economic Characteristics. Environmental Resources Manager Limited, 2 Lalupon Close S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos. Ntukekpo D.S., 1996. Spillage: Bane of Petroleum, Ultimate Water Technology & Environment Nwilo, P.C., Peters K.O. and Badejo O.T., 2000. Sustainable Management of Oil Spill Incidents along the Nigerian Coastal Areas. Electronic Conference on Sustainable Development Information Systems, CEDARE. Olagoke W., 1996. Niger Delta Environmental Survey: Which Way Forward? Ultimate Water Technology & Environment. Olagoke W., 1996. Niger Delta Environmental Survey: Which Way Forward? Ultimate Water Technology & Environment. Oshineye, A., 2000. The Petroleum Industry in Nigeria: An Overview. Modern Practice Journal of Finance & Investment Law. Learned Publishments Limited. Vol. 4. No. 4 Ozekhome, M., 2001. Legislation for Growth in the Niger Delta, Midweek Pioneer. Ozobia, N.V., 1998. Engineering Challenges in the Nigerian Maritime Industry. Third Engineering Distinguished Lecture. Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos. Prince R., 1993. Petroleum Spill Nioremediation in Marine Environments. Critical Rev. Microbial. 19(4), 217-242. Salu A.O., 1999. Securing Environmental Protection in the Nigerian Oil Industry. 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