Historically, the first commercial quantity of crude oil was discovered in 1956 in Oloibiri, present day Bayelsa state (Omofonmwan and Odia, 2009). Since the first oil production drill site, over 1,500 oil wells have been developed in approximately 160 oil fields. Nearly 7,000 kilometres of pipelines and flow lines and 275 flow stations, are operated by more than 13 oil companies (UNDP, 2006). Studies have shown that all stages of oil operations including explorations, productions, transportation and storage result in the destruction of natural environment and the livelihood of the indigenes whose survival depend on swamps and land such as displacing farmlands to the installation of oil infrastructure or oil spills (Osuoka, 2003, Aghalino and Eyinla, 2009, Dung et al., 2008, Ibaba, 2012, Wattenberg et al., 2015, Nwilo and Badejo, 2005). Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement safe practices for the separation and purification of crude oil in order to protect and sustain the natural ecosystem and biodiversity (Wattenberg et al., 2015), considering oil operations and associated impacts are increasing every day (Nwilo and Badejo, 2005, Kadafa, 2012).
The extraction of crude oil requires the deployment of various specialised techniques. These techniques produce petroleum waste from drilling fluids, which chemically contaminate land and water when discharged into the environment. O’Rourke and Connolly, (2003) suggest that these techniques physically alter the environment, affect population of migratory species and impose health and safety risks on communities. After the extraction, the crude oil undergoes the purification process and is separated to yield the final products, such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), petrol, diesel etc. These products are then collected and transported to various depots for storage.
Before the Environmental Crisis
The coastal area of the Niger delta houses more than eighty percent of the oil operations. Prior to the discovery and exploration of oil, this area was characterised by natural fresh and healthy water. In fact, Between the 1800s and 1900s, when the protectorates of northern and southern Nigeria were amalgamated and before the discovery and production of oil in commercial quantities (Abel-Smith and Titmuss, 1956), the Niger delta was referred to as the ‘food basket’ (Ibe, 1996). Agriculture, including farming and fishing was the dominant livelihood of the indigenous people (Ibe, 1996). Being a region with high quality agricultural lands, vast forests, extensive freshwater swamps and an immense labour force with over 36% of its population aged 30-69; it would be expected to be one of the most developed parts of Nigeria (NDDC). Paradoxically, despite the abundance of these resources, the region is distinguished by high levels of deprivation and underdevelopment See (Obi, 2014, UNDP, 2006, Babalola, 2014).
The state of the Government and Human development Crisis
Although the immediate environment has been adversely affected along the Niger Delta region, the actual crisis is firmly related to the government policy and human development. Since oil exploration began, the Niger delta has continuously been characterised by environmental and ecological degradation. This is due to the indiscriminate manner in which the development has taken place and the lack of concern for the environment by the multinationals involved (Allen 2006; Allen 2011; Edo 2012; Nwilo and Badejo 2005). According to Opukri and Ibada, (2008) the oil activities in the area have resulted in situations where individuals are unable to actualise their interests or aspirations. For example, fishing (a main economic activity in the region) is declining because oil has caused the death of aquatic life by minimizing oxygen levels in the water (Allen 2006). Oil-based ecological disasters have also killed microorganisms in the soil, thereby affecting agriculture (Nwilo and Badejo 2005). Michael Watts in his book “Curse of the black gold” (Watts and Kashi 2008) shows confrontational images of Sludge Rivers and mounds of waste in polluted water bodies. These communities also have shorelines eroded because of the high volume of deep sea operations. It is difficult to acquire precise oil spill data, but studies have continually shown a controversy in data provided.
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