Oil Spills, Management and Impact on Local Communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

Resumen

The enormous damage done by oil spills in the Niger Delta merits a special attention as enunciated by this study. The incidents of crude oil spills in the Niger Delta are phenomenal. For examples, WHO (2003) reports that an average of 240,000 barrels of crude oil are spilled in this region annually. Between 1976 and 1996 an estimated 1.89 million barrels of petroleum were spilled into the Niger Delta as reported by the Department of Petroleum Resources. The damage done to the ecosystems by oil spills has affected human lives through incapacitation of natural phenomena; deforestation, destruction of vegetation, pollution that has affected aquaculture and soil fertility negatively; poisoned animals and impaired human health. These observations made this investigation desirable. By a careful and systematic literature review enough information was obtained which facilitated some conclusions and recommendations. An indisputable fact is that oil spill phenomenon is doing irreparable damage to the people of the Niger Delta. The long run effects of oil spills cannot be reversed. Consequently, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the oil prospecting companies should as a matter of urgency, provide adequate and functional remedial measures devoid of political idiosyncrasies. Individuals and communities exposed to oil spills should, as a moral obligation, be adequately compensated. In the real sense of it no compensation can be adequate but let some measure of justice be seen to be done. It is morally wrong to prospect the resources of the local communities and leave them to die installmentally due to the negative effects of oil spills