Introduction

The Niger Delta is located in the southern part of Nigeria where the Niger River flows into the Gulf of Guinea. Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the Niger Delta encompasses over 70,000 square kilometers of floodplain thus making it one of the largest deltas in the world. In addition to being one of the largest deltas in the world it is home to the largest strand of mangroves in Africa and the fourth largest mangrove system in the world (Spalding et al., 1997). These mangroves, particularly of genera Rhizophora and Avicennia, are of local, regional and global importance as they are home to a number of endangered, endemic and potentially vulnerable species. Such species include the pygmy hippopotamus and the West African manatee-both of which are located on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. Rich in resources and biodiversity, the mangroves in the Niger Delta are under threat and thus have been classified by the World Wildlife Fund as “critical/endangered.” 

Kinako 1977. Map showing the extent of mangrove forest in the Niger Delta.

The Niger Delta is under threat from an array of sources such as population growth, aquaculture, industrialization and the introduction of invasive species such as water hyacinth (WWF). However, the main threat and the threat that will be focused on in this research project is that of oil. Oil has fouled everything in Southern Nigeria making it the major cause of loss of biodiversity and mangrove deforestation within the delta. Despite being the root of the delta’s environmental degradation, oil discovery and production has become a godsend to the economy of Nigeria making it the largest oil producer in Africa and among the top ten in the world. Oil and gas, mainly from the Niger Delta, form the backbone of the Nigerian economy as oil provides 90% of Nigeria’s GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings and about 65% of budgetary revenues (Nwilo/Badejo). With 45% of the population below the poverty line, oil has provided a means to an end for many Nigerian workers even if it comes at the cost of destroying one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world.

Oil exploration in Nigeria first began in 1937 and in 1956 oil and gas deposits were first discovered by Royal Dutch Shell in the town of Oloibiri (Bentley). It was not until two years later in 1958 that the oil was actually drilled. Shortly after in 1960 Nigeria gained its independence and by the mid-1970's had joined OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (O'Neill). The discovery along the coast sparked hope of an economic boom that would help elevate the standard of living in Nigeria. The excitement radiated amongst Nigerians and transnational oil corporations-Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Agip, ExxonMobil and Chevron/Texaco-as the promise of wealth lurked beneath the delta’s surface. Today, this excitement has turned into a curse of black gold.

This curse has led to the heavy exploitation of resources leaving the Niger Delta as one of the five most polluted and degraded places on the planet (K.K.).  Ninety percent of Nigeria's oil production originates from the Niger Delta and surrounding offshore areas (Snowden/Ekweozor). The core oil producers include Baylesa, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Boom State with refineries located in Port Harcourt I and II, Warri, and Kaduna (Nwilo/Badejo).  Within this network of oil production, the Niger Delta is currently home to numerous production platforms, refineries, tank farms, tankers, loading terminals, flow stations and a network of pipelines. Figure 1 below demonstrates the vast amount of oil related activities within the delta which represent the potential sources of oil pollution and mangrove destruction.  As a result, Nigeria is home to 4,500 miles of pipelines, 606 oil fields (360 on-shore/246 offshore), 275 flow stations, all which leave "their gas flares visible day and night from miles away" (O'Neill, Nwilo/Badejo). Figure 2 demonstrates gas flare images which were found using Google Earth. 

Snowden/Ekweozor

Within these areas of oil production oil spills are a common occurrence and generally go unmonitored or are monitored in a questionable manner (Snowden/Ekweozor). Oil companies have operated in the delta for many years with little to no environmental insight and up until 1988 there was no federal environmental protection agency (O'Neill). In 1992, environmental impact assessments were mandated yet even today most companies do not follow through with them. As a result of this negligence, the delta is being pushed to ecological disaster. Oil leaks are often patched up without cleaning up sites and gas flares are left to burn resulting in acid rain and the release of greenhouse gases (O'Neill). In addition, the means for people to sustain themselves is being wiped out as the wood that they collect from the mangroves as a fuel source can no longer be collected as it is polluted with oil. These oil spills also pollute groundwater and freshwater sources that are used for drinking and washing as well as result in the destruction of cropland. Oil is the primary culprit for the "defoliation and death of mature mangroves and seedings" (Snowden/Ekweozor). Between 1976 and 1996 the government documented 4,647 spills resulting in 2,369,470 barrels of oil spilled into the environment. More recently from 1997-2001, 2, 097 oil spill incidents were reported yet this number might actually be ten times higher (O'Neill, Nwilo/Badejo). Recorded oil spills include the one on April 24, 1984 when a barge sank in the Bonny Estuary spilling 250 barrels of Nigerian crude oil, the one in 1998 where 40,000 barrels were spilt into the environment off of the Mobil platform in Akwa Ibom, the 1978 GOCON Escravos spill of 300,000 barrels, 1978 SPDC Forcados Terminal tank failure resulting in 580,000 barrels, January 17, 1980 Funiwa 5 blowout of 37.0 million litres and countless others.

Chart of major oil spills within the delta (Bentley)

In addition to oil spills, the dredging of canals is also a main culprit of mangrove destruction within the Niger Delta. Dredging is often carried out to increase access for oil exploration and dredging in sensitive environments, such as the Niger Delta, is often accompanied by ecological impacts that destroy surrounding vegetation and alter the topography and hydrology of the surrounding area (Ohimain). Dredging thus creates an imbalance in the ecosystem as it often leads to the direct burial and destruction of fringing mangrove and surrounding vegetation, as well as the flooding and suffocation of mangroves and the degradation of water quality. Typically, dredged materials are placed adjacent to the canal being dredged and then are abandoned and forgotten about. These materials hinder natural mangrove restoration, prevent site re-colonization by native mangrove species and result in a loss of wetlands (Ohimain). Figure 3 shows photos of dredging canals within the Niger Delta.

Ohimain 2004

http://cas.umkc.edu/GeoSciences/LCAM/NIGER_DELTA/Pictures/Dredging_mangroves.jpg

Ohimain 2004

Currently as a result of all the environmental degradation, political instability and corruption occurring in the delta local people are starting to retaliate. Relentless crisis is growing as attacks on oil platforms and pumping stations are being done by a secretive group of armed hooded rebels who call themselves MEND or Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (O'Neill). The people are beginning to speak up for their rights yet little is being done by the government or by the oil companies. Only time will tell what is held in the future for Nigeria and hopefully it will be a future filled with positive growth and change for the Nigerian people.