THE EFFECTS OF OIL SPILLAGE IN THE NIGER DELTA A CASE STUDY OF UGHELLI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Oil spillage is the release of petroleum substance or product into the streams, lakes, rivers, beaches, seas, oceans and land, which becomes poisonous and thus make the water and land fouled and threatened the rich coastal habitat. Oil spillage is an environmental problem in Nigeria. It is common in oil producing areas. During a spill, oil floats on land and water surface and forms an oil slick that is about 0.1mm thick continuing to spread, the stick becomes 0.01mm thick. Oil is a very complex mixture of predominantly hydrocarbons the light {less dense} portions of oil are more toxic but also more likely to evaporate. Evaporation can reduce the volume of crude oil slick. Heavier oil can wash to the shore causing serious short-term harm to shellfish and plants life. oil spillage on soil makes it unsatisfactory for the plant growth. This is due to insufficient aeration of the soil because of air from the spaces between the soil particles by oil spillage. Tarry lumps, float, sink or cover habitats of shallow water organisation. They may also foul beaches. Weather is a key factor for oil spills; wind can cause an emulsion, which can least for weeks and be difficult to pump. During the early stages, coming in contact with the soil, may kill seabirds and mammals, because of the toxic chemicals. Oil on feathers hinders water repellency and poisons the birds from the oral consumption of the toxic materials fur bearing animals, seabirds and seals lose their buoyancy and insulation when oil fouls their fur they either drown or suffer hypothermial and die the effects on fish are unclean. Fish may simply swim away but floating eggs can be destroyed.

In areas where wildlife is very healthy or full recovery has been seen within two or four years but if the spill occurred during migration or breeding season, it could be devastating and prompt action is crucial. The communities have remained grossly socio economically under developed and pauperized amidst the immense oil wealth owing to systematic disequilibrium the production. Exchange relationship between the state, the transnational companies and the people. Enormous money had been derived from oil export but the area has been subjected to severe land degradation, socio-economic disorganization, increasing poverty, misery militancy occupation, and bloody violence. Oil extraction has impacted most disastrously on the socio-physical environmental of the Niger Delta region. Oil bearing communities massively threatening the fragile subsistent peasant economy and biodiversity and hence their entire social livelihood and very survival.

The socio and environmental costs of oil production have been extensive. They include destruction of wildlife and biodiversity, loss of fertile soil, pollution of air and drinking water, degradation of farmland and damage to aquatic ecosystem, all of which include caused serious health problems for the inhabitants of areas surrounding oil production the occurrence of oil spillage in Nigeria is frequent in February 2001, another soil spillage was reported in Ughilli which led to pollution of the water, there by making it not navigable for fishes and carrying out economic activities and the killing of fishes in the river. Most of the people who lived in the area depended upon fishing for their livelihood. The oil spillage changed their lifestyle and they lost their jobs in the local government.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

There are a lot of environmental problems in Nigeria such as desert encroachment, wide life depletion, pollution, flooding, land and water and air pollution among others. The exploitation of oil in the Niger Delta region has brought to bear oil spillage and its numerous effects. Hence, this study tries to find out the causes and effects of oil spillages and environmental remediation measures of the oil companies in the area.