Hazardous Oil Exploitation of the Niger Delta
Posted on October 17, 2012
By Stefanie Merki, Intern
This article was first published in our July-September Newsletter.
Since the late 1950s the ecosystem of the mangrove and rainforest in the Niger Delta has diminished slowly. The destruction stems from oil extracting companies that have been in place after oil was discovered on the territory in 1956. The rich ecosystem that provided the local people with food and a means of income has been gradually losing its biodiversity ever since.
Nigeria is a country that unfortunately suffers from the resource curse. The country is full of rich resources such as oil and natural gases; however, a large number of Nigerians are still suffering from poverty. Even worse, these natural resources contribute to the hardships of many people residing in the Niger Delta. For example, people who make a living in agriculture and fishery, which is a large majority, see their revenue shrink due to oil spills and gas flaring. Additionally, not only did the oil industry bring environmental issues that led to the vanishing of fisheries and fertile soil, but their actions also had adverse impacts on the health of the local population.
The Niger Delta is a perfect example of the exploitation of sub-Saharan countries by the West. Multinational oil companies are solely concerned with profits, without any regard for the local people and their environment; furthermore, these companies are allowed to exploit with impunity.
Oil companies usually burn natural gases, rather than storing them to reclaim them for future use. In the short term, burning these gases is cheaper for the oil companies. Nigeria is the country with the highest rate of flared gases in the world, even though gas flaring has been illegal in the country since 1984. In the gas flaring process, gases are released into the atmosphere, which then becomes toxic when it comes in contact with rain. The so-called acid rain changes the pH composition of water and soil, thereby killing off the fish population and decreasing productivity for farmers.
Furthermore, the acid rain pollutes the drinking water of the local population, which results in severe health issues. Locals are not only at high health risks due to the acid rains, but also through direct contact with gas flares. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, being in close proximity to gas flares leads to breathing disorders including aggravated asthma, coughing and difficult or painful breathing, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung functions. Moreover, cancer and premature death are also associated with gas flaring. Acid rain also has disastrous effects on agriculture. The harmful toxins released during gas flares will ultimately end up in the soil and vegetation. Land degradation is a severe issue in regions where the majority earns their living from agriculture. Land degradation has led to a drastic augmentation of unemployment and poverty in the Niger Delta.
For over 5 decades international oil companies have been leaving their devastating footprints on the Niger Delta. This region used to be so rich and bio-diverse that it could have grown enough food to feed the entire population of West Africa. Sadly, today the inhabitants of the Niger Delta struggle to provide food for themselves. Many people, institutions, and governments are aware of the exploitation occurring in these regions; however, international corporations still operate business as usual. The U.S. relies heavily on Nigerian oil; nearly 40% of the U.S. crude oil stems from the Niger Delta. As consumers we have the power to change the situation by boycotting companies like Shell, Chevron, and Exxon-Mobile; use your dollars to vote “no” to hazardous extractives in the Niger Delta. This issue goes beyond what I can mention in a one-page report. Therefore, a more in-depth research will follow shortly, examining the consequences of the oil extractive business on the local people, and who is reaping the benefits.
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