The vanishing of mangrove forests, deteriorating aquaculture and natural gas flaring are some of the most common sites in the 20,000-km² Niger Delta, attributable to oil spills. The oil companies have done whatever they could to exploit the liquid wealth and, in return, have blighted its ecosystem permanently. Over the past 50 years, up to 1.5 million tons of oil has been polluting the ecologically precious delta. The environmental degradation continues with no signs of any respite at hand. Still, 1000 oil spills raid the Niger Delta yearly. However, drillers never show a genuine concern for cleansing the affected territory.
Shell’s explorations and ensuing abuses:
After exploring the delta for oil for 50 years, Shell started extracting it in 1958 and the first cargo was exported in February of the same year. Since then, oil is contributing about 50% to Nigeria’s GDP and 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The industry is flourishing rapidly with little or no concern toward the environmental issues arising out of it.
Aging pipes and swamp flow lines are continuously polluting the natural water resources of the delta. People are forced to sustain their lives with contaminants all around. Arable land is sinking out of existence and newer breathing diseases are coming to the fore. Despite all these issues, neither the Nigerian government nor the oil companies are willing to take a constructive step to normalize the sorry state of affairs.
No one takes responsibility:
Amnesty’s reflections on the issue:
The oil industry is responsible for widespread pollution in the Niger Delta…. oil spills, waste dumping, and gas flaring are notorious and endemic. Undoubtedly, in many parts of the Niger Delta, community action and reaction is part of the problem of pollution. However, as long as companies continue to deny that their poor practice is a major factor in community hostility, the situation will not improve.
While the oil rich companies grab the benefits with both hands, why do they keep mum when it comes to share responsibilities? How long will it take to make them realize what they are passing on to upcoming generations? Already fragile ecosystem ponders over the inhuman treatment, callousness of the Nigerian Government and the greed of bloodsuckers (Shell, Chevron and others). Slowly and steadily, we are heading toward a cul-de-sac where environmental racism triumphs forever and none provide a viable solution to the problem.
Rebels take the lead:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T4uyLns5-w&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1]
Rebel groups of Nigeria have now decided to uproot oil companies from the Nigerian soil. Though ethnic tensions are also involved in it, companies are facing the heat for not consulting local communities in building their pipelines and resorting to gas flaring that went on to pollute wetlands and accelerated greenhouse gas emissions. So, to blame the rebel groups is as meaningless as supporting the big-bellies.
Image Source: Shell Guilty