Description
ABSTRACT
This study examined the effects of oil spillage on the socio-economic activities of the people and the environment in some communities in the Niger delta. The objectives are to determine the quantity of oil spilled from pipelines, the area of coverage and to assess the effects of oil spillage on the people, soil and water. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data relied on the administration of structured questionnaires; 319 questionnaires were randomly distributed to a sample population (household heads), with 302 retrieved. Secondary data were sourced from published materials. Also, soil samples from four locations and water samples from five locations were collected to determine the pH value of the water, the presence and concentration of heavy metals in the soil and the total hydrocarbon content (THC) of water. Soil and water samples were analysed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer and gravimetric methods for soil and water, respectively. There was a strong relationship between the volume of oil spilled and the area coverage. Laboratory soil analysis from sampled communities showed a higher concentration of heavy metals (chromium, lead, arsenic, etc.) above the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible levels as well as the figure for controlled site. Similarly, three of the communities studied had THC concentrations of 40,000 ppm exceeding both WHO limit of 1 ppm and controlled site. This has grave implications on the soil, water and socio-economic activities of the people. It is, therefore, important that environmental laws should be strictly adhered to. Compensation should be adequately and promptly paid to the communities, and remedial action should be speedily undertaken whenever there are spills. Finally, the oil companies must involve the communities in the maintenance and monitoring of pipelines with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life of members of rural communities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWELDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
GLOSSARY
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
- STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
- AIM OF THE STUDY
- OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
- SCOPE OF THE STUDY
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- APPLICATION OF THE STUDY
- LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
- DEFINITION OF TERMS
- PROJECT ORGANISATION
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
- OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
- TREND, CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLAGE IN NIGERIA
- EFFECTS ON THE GENERAL POPULATION
- EFFECTS ON LOCAL FISHERMEN, SEAMEN AND SHIP WORKERS
- HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF OGONI LAND
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- INTRODUCTION
- STUDY AREA
- POPULATION OF THE STUDY
- DATA COLLECTION
- RESEACH DESIGN
- SAMPLING TECHNIQUE AND SAMPLE SIZE
- DATA ANALYSIS
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESIDENTS
4.2 INCIDENCE AND EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLAGE ON THE RESIDENTS’ LIVELIHOODS
4.3 HYPOTHESIS TESTING AND LABORATORY ANALYSES OF WATER AND SOIL SAMPLES
4.5 WAY FORWARD IN THE NIGER DELTA
CHAPTER FIVE
- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
- REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is one of the leading oil producers in the world. It is ranked sixth at global level, first in Africa, and exports about 1.8 million barrels per day (NBS 2006 Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS). 2006. Annual abstract of statistics, Abuja: NBS). Most of the oil exploration activities are concentrated in the Niger delta, which contains the world’s largest wetland, with extensive fresh water swamp, forest and rich biological diversity. Over half of the area is criss-crossed with creeks and dotted with small islands whereas the remaining is a lowland rainforest zone (UNDP 2006 United Nations Development Programme. 2006. Niger delta human development report, Abuja: UNDP).
The large population of the country, which stood at 140 million in 2006 (NPC 2006 National Population Commission (NPC). 2006. Nigeria provisional population, Abuja: NPC.), places a great demand on the energy sector. The sector provides employment for the survival of many people and more importantly it serves as a major source of foreign exchange. Oil production generates the greatest proportion of foreign exchange and internal revenue earning for the federal government. For instance, it accounts for more than 90% of foreign exchange earning and about 80% of government internal revenue (NDDC 2006 NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission). 2006. Niger delta regional development master plan, Port Harcourt, , Nigeria: NDDC. ). The overall contribution of the oil sector to the National economy grew from an insignificant 0.1% in 1950 to 87% in 1976 (Achi 2003 Achi, C . Hydrocarbon exploitation, environmental degradation and poverty: the Niger delta experience. Paper presented at: The diffuse pollution conference. Dublin, Ireland). Between 2000 and 2004, oil accounted for about 79.5% of the total government revenues and about 97% of foreign exchange earnings (UNDP 2006 United Nations Development Programme. 2006. Niger delta human development report, Abuja: UNDP).
Despite these enormous financial gains, there are problems associated with oil exploration. Adetular (1996 Adetular, V AO. 1996. Oil and the people of Niger delta: a case study of economic, social and cultural impacts of oil pollution. Research Report Jos, , Nigeria Centre for Development Studies ) stated that the enormous revenue derived from the oil industry has not been translated to socio-economic development, and that the environmental pollution resulting from oil prospecting, spillage and seepage is increasing. Repeated pollution undermines the ecological basis of a hitherto self-sustaining coherent way of life in oil producing communities.
The coming of the multinational companies to Nigeria for oil exploration has led to unquantifiable environmental pollution, especially oil spillage. For example, since the first oil spillage that took place in Bomu on the 9th July 1970, several other incidents have occurred in different parts of the Niger delta region (Mobil Producing Nigeria 1998 Mobil Producing Nigeria. 1998. January 1998 Idoho – QIT 24 pipeline oil spill. Short term environmental impact assessment report, Nigeria: Mobil Producing Nigeria). Over 784 oil spillage incidents took place between 1976 and 1980 in which about 1.3 million barrels of oil were spilled (Ogbogbo 2004 Ogbogbo, C BN. 2004. The Niger delta and the resource control conflict since 1960–1995 [Ph.D. Institute of African studies dissertation], Nigeria: University of Ibadan). Recent available data indicated that between 1976 and 2002 there were about 4625 major oil spillage reported incidents involving release of greater than 3 million barrels of oil (NDDC 2006 NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission). 2006. Niger delta regional development master plan, Port Harcourt, , Nigeria: NDDC).
In Burutu, the local government area where the study took place, there are many cases of oil spillage over the years. For example, between 1981 and 2007, there were 14 incidents of oil spillage, whereas between 1996 and 2006, the total volume of oil spills was 124,377 barrels. These spills have affected the livelihood and socio-economic activities as well as the environment of the people. For instance, fishing, which is the predominant occupation and means of livelihood of the people, does not yield much benefit anymore. Similarly, the spills have impacted negatively on both the pH value of soil and the hydrocarbon content of the water. The consequences are that people now migrate to other towns for greener pasture. Also, there is loss of fishing ground and disappearance of livelihoods for the people. To this end, the study therefore examined the socio-economic characteristics of the people, determined the quantity of oil spill and assessed the effect of oil spillage on the people and the environment.
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Oil spill have distinct environmental effects. Such as: A marine oil spill is usually degraded fast since water is an excellent medium for dispersion, emulsifying and microbial degradation processes. If released in the water, oil and oil products tend to accumulate at the surface of the water and float on the water. Small oil droplets may also form which may increase the surface contact with water and also the natural biodegradation of the spilled oil. An oil spill on the land may penetrate underground and move downward reaching eventually the groundwater. However, such vertical movement may be slowed done if not prevented by the presence of paved surfaces, natural clay layers or other natural or anthropogenic barriers. Oil may also move laterally along less permeable layers (including surface pavements) or with groundwater and surface waters. An oil spill in the underground (such as from pipelines or underground storage tank leaking) will likely affect the groundwater since the vertical traveling distance is reduced. Such spill may also result in oil residuals that could be entrapped underground constituting a secondary source of groundwater pollution. This study came to bring solution to oil spillage problems.
1.3 AIM OF THE PROJECT
The main aim of this work is to study the effect of oil spill on the environments and living organisms, including humans in ogoni land.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
At the end of this work, student involved shall be to:
1. Understand the meaning of oil pill
2. Understand the general impact of oil spill in Ogoni land
3. Learn the protective measures for oil spillage.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
Oil Spill Pollution refers to the negative polluting effects that oil spills have on the environments and living organisms, including humans, due to the environmental discharge of various organic compounds that make up crude oil and oil distillate products, the majority of which include various individual hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are made exclusively from carbon and hydrogen atoms which bind together in various ways, resulting in paraffins (or normal alkanes), isoparaffins (isoalkanes), aromatics (such as benzene or various PAHs), cycloalkanes and unsaturated alkanes (alkenes and alkynes). Other individual compounds that are present in crude oil and oil discharges include (apart from carbon and hydrogen) sulfur, nitrogen and/or oxygen atoms.
1.6 LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
The study of Oil spill is an important study which can be useful to all oil producing community in Nigeria, but in this work, we focused on the oil spillage in Ogoni land in Niger Delta.
1.7 APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT
This study is useful to both the government and the residents of the Ogoni land in that it enlighten them about oil spillage, how it can be avoided and protected. For the Government, this study can serve as awareness to them, which can also bring suggestion or solution to affected communities.
1.8 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- How does oil spill affect the environment?
- What is oil spill and its effects?
- What are the causes and effects of oil spills?
- How can we stop oil spillage?
vii. What are the major sources of oil pollution?
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
OIL: An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures and is both hydrophobic (does not mix with water, literally “water fearing”) and lipophilic (mixes with other oils, literally “fat loving”). Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are usually flammable and surface active.
OIL SPILL: An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.
1.9 PROJECT ORGANISATION
The article is divided into five sections including this introduction. Section 2 is on the trend and causes of oil spillage in Nigeria whereas the study area and method of data collection are in Section 3. Results of findings are discussed in Section 4. The way forward is and conclusion in Section 5.
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