ABSTRACT
Nigeria flares 17.2bn cm of natural
gas per year in conjunction with the exploration of crude oil in the Niger
Delta. This gas flaring expends huge amounts of energy and causes environmental
degradation and diseases. A situation seriously prone to a devastating effect
of climate change havoc and negative implications. Even though oil has become
the Centre of current industrial development and economic activities, the links
between oil exploration and exploitation processes and the incumbent
environmental health, and social problems in oil producing communities are not
well known. This work is also deep in examining the potential benefits of a gas
flaring reduction on the local economy, environment, and the projected benefits
of utilizing associated gas.
The study adopts primary and
secondary data. The primary data utilizes materials from four villages, the Use
of oral face to face interview on some key informants of five (5) Environmental
Rights activists, two (2) International Lawyers, five (5) Political Scientists,
six (6) Historians, four (4) oil workers and three (3) oil firms executives.
The study uses analytical, historical and descriptive approach to arriving at
its results. The instrument of the research is in-depth interview method.
The study affirmed from that carbon
monoxide level of ambient air exists in many communities, especially as noted
in the four villages, showing that emissions related to flaring was high. The
study also revealed that the reduction of gas flaring can improve human health
and the environment coupled to the growing climate change consequences. The
work noted that despite the havoc caused on the environment, the Nigerian state
dependent on only oil, a mono-economy, without utilizing the gas waste stands
out to affects the country's earnings.
Conclusively, the study shows that
local livelihood in the Niger delta can be significantly improved by promoting
a shift from flaring the associated gas to collecting it for use as a gaseous
fuel and for electricity generation. Although political feasibility poses a
significant hurdle, economic and energy initiatives need to be strongly
integrated with other policies that promote development.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
General Background and Statement of
Study Objective of Study
Significance of Study
Research Methodology
Scope of Study
Limitation of Study
Operationalization of Concepts
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
The Concept of Flaring and the
Environment
Niger Delta and Gas Flaring: Why?
CHAPTER THREE
Historical Overview
The Origin and Causes of Gas Flaring
in Niger Delta
Investigation of Gas Flaring in
Selected Communities
The effects of Gas Flaring on Niger
Delta
CHAPTER FOUR
General Analysis
Gas Flaring in Niger Delta and the
Immediate Environment
The General Implications of Gas
Flaring in Niger Delta
CHAPTER FIVE
Conclusion and Recommendation
Summary of Findings Recommendation
Conclusion
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0 INTRODUTION
This study introduces the incidence
of gas flaring with its consequence effects on the human health, environmental
degradation and natural habitats in the region. The work informed that over
2,215 villages cum communities in the Niger Delta pass through the horrors and
degradation imposed by gas flaring on the environment as seen below. These
destructions not minding its devastating effects also affect the general
economy of the Nigerian state. A game both international and national
government had reluctantly seen as an admissible fact, pains on the
inhabitants, people and problem associated to a failed economy, failed state
and awful deceit of governance to the mass public. These are concisely
discussed in the sections that follow, especially in the general background and
statement of problem and other sections.
1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND AND
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Nigeria is a country that is endowed
with quiet a number of natural resources as well as human resources. Some of
the key resources found in the Nigerian environment (soil) are limestone,
bauxite, bronze, oil and gas, copper, natural, forest and resources such as
wild life amongst others.
Unfortunately, among these enormous
resources, only crude oil is being
harness over the years. There are also a lot of petroleum products being
derived from the crude, amongst, which are the premier motor spirit (P.M.S),
the diesel (Agro), kerosene (DPK), low poor fuel oil (Lpfo), high poor fuel oil
(Hpfo) amongst others. Gas resources in the same vein has been in its large
quantity of over 4Otrillion cubic feet as Nigerian reserves, begging for
exploitation and proper utilization. Its existing quantity had also caused gas
flaring over the years with the attendant effect on the immediate environment
where the resources are located (Niger Delta).
Nowhere in the world have communities
been subjected to gas flaring on such a scale. It is estimated to cost Nigeria
US $7.5 billion annually whilst the roaring, toxic flares affect the health and
livelihood of Delta inhabitants. It is estimated that 66% of Nigerians live
below poverty level. Gas Flare contributes significantly to climate change,
thus affecting communities all over the world. With Nigeria per capita GNP
lower than at independence, they are an appalling waste of resources that the
country cannot afford.
The Niger Delta region is an area of
dense mangrove rainforest in the southern part of Nigeria It comprises nine out
of the thirty six states in Nigeria. The states include: Abia, Akwa lbom,
Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta,
Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. The region accounts for about 40 different ethnic groups speaking 250
dialects spread across 5,000 communities.
MAP OF THE NIGER DELTA
STATES
The region's oil accounts for
approximately 90 percent of the value of Nigeria's crude oil production and
exports, but remains one of the least developed regions in Nigeria and the
world in general. The region also has a steadily growing population estimated
to be over 45 million people as of 2005, accounting for more than 33% of
Nigeria's total population. The population density is also among the highest in
the world with 265 people per kilometer square, which is growing at the rapid
rate of 3% per year.
The traditional economic activities
of the people in this region are fishing and subsistence farming, with
supplements from a wide variety of forest products but presently, the lands are
no longer productive as a result of oil spills, leakages, and effects of gas
flaring and other ecologically related accidents.
Historically, gas flaring began
simultaneously with oil extraction in the 1960s by Shell-BP. Although, the
British government subsequently acknowledged that the flaring was unacceptable,
it was allowed to continue without any real efforts to change infrastructure
and prevent the waste of the gas. This is in contrast to Britain's policies on
gas flaring in their own territory, where gas flaring has been reduced to a
minimum.
In fact, in the Western Europe 99% of
the associated gas is used or injected into the ground. Gas flaring is
generally discouraged and condemned by the international community, as it
contributes greatly to climate change. Which ironically can display its most
devastating effects in developing countries like Nigeria, and particularly in
the semi-arid Sahel regions of the sub-Saharan Africa? The Niger Delta's low
-lying plains are also quite vulnerable as they lie only a few meters above sea
level.
The practice of gas flaring as it has
been allowed since oil production began under British, has become set in stone,
and would be costly to overhaul to reduce flaring. As a result, little is done
by oil companies. This is in spite of the fact that gas flaring in Nigeria has
technically been illegal since 1984 under section 3 of the "Associated Gas
Re-injection Act.
The Niger Delta territory and
environment provides the highest number, concentration and intensity of gas
flaring in the world. The statistics of economic loss and injury brought about
by gas flaring is mind bogging.
The Presence and operations of the
petroleum companies is pervasive,
invasive and almost suffocating, in the Niger Delta. It control and curtails
the lives and survival options of the people of that region. With the increase
of the downstream and upstream activities in the Oil/Gas Companies, the
pollution of the Niger Delta has reached a dangerous dimension, which in this
respect is a great problem affecting the people and all kind of life in the
creek and land.
Years of petroleum production in the
Coastal States have rendered lands, unproductive, poisoned the waters and
forests, while Gas flaring has rendered the environment generally inhabitable.
The health hazards to which the peoples of the Coastal States are subjected to
as a result of Oil/Gas activities cannot be fully document in the project. Hence,
this research endeavour to finding out the problematic underpin of the issue of
gas flaring against the lives of the people, the economic and environment.
The International Community, the
Niger Delta States/Communities and various human right groups have critically
study the problems of gas flaring and its effects to the people of the Niger -
Delta in order to help stop gas flaring and develop the communities. The
reason, this project also puts inquiry on.
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
This research project, which is
basically designed to unfold the problems of gas flaring in the Niger - Delta
is loaded with several objectives. More specifically the study pursues the following
objectives:
(i) To examine the effects of gas flaring on the
Niger Delta environment.
(ii) To find out the damage of gas flaring to the
economy of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
(iii) To examine human response on the problem of
gas in the Niger Delta regions.
(iv) To assess the impact of gas flaring in Niger
Delta and the lives of the people.
(v) To provide measures on how gas flaring can be
stopped in the Niger Delta.
1.3 SIGNIFCANCE OF STUDY
The study is significance in several
ways, amongst which are:
Firstly, to review the
characteristics and scale of gas flaring in Nigeria and efforts to solve it.
Economic, technological as well as institutional and political issues will be
addressed, with emphasis on the factors that represent obstacles and
opportunities for a solution.
Secondly, examination of the
potential role of various national and international bodies and funding
mechanisms to play a role in bringing the issue forward towards a solution.
Thirdly, gas Flaring pollution has
caused serious health problems to the Niger Delta Communities, their water,
land, farms, and air has also be polluted by gas flaring.
Fourthly, the unfolding tragedy of
the Niger Delta, is that those who control, manage and exploit its petroleum
resources, that is, the oil companies and those in control of the Federal
Government, are far away from the Niger Delta.
Fifthly, the study in its intent
tends to extend the frontier of knowledge, while adding volume to the numerous
literatures on gas flaring in the Niger Delta and elsewhere in the world.
Sixthly, the study closes the gap on
literature on the issue of gas flaring, it devious effect on the society and
environmental hazard experienced by those living in the coastal line with
attendant diseases and infinities.
Finally, food security is at risk
from declines in agricultural production and uncertain climate in the Niger
Delta.
1.4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research adopts primary and
secondary sources of data. The primary data utilizes oral face-to-face
interview method to interview some key informants from the selected six
communities of Ebocha-Egbema, Oboma, Bomadi, Patani, Rumuekpe and Okpoloma
among others. The study also interview some Human Rights environmentalist,
Friends of Earth link group, Lawyers and government officials. The research
instrument is in-depth interview method.
On the secondary data, the study
sourced information from CD ROM, library archival methods which includes
textbooks, articles, journals, internet browsing, magazines, newspapers and
conference papers and unpublished works.
The study utilizes descriptive,
evaluative and documentary method to arriving at its goal.
1.5 LIMITATION
OF RESEARCH STUDY
The project experienced a lot of
limitations, which includes poor fmancial base. In furtherance to this, there
was a grossly delayed in the early completion of the work due to academic
unless and strike. The crisis in the Niger Delta and the fear of pirates and
militant actually did not allow the investigation to flow as expected. Library
attendant also did not help in the process of gathering information owing to
attitudinal behavour and fear of the unknown. The research was also faced with
other logistics problem like unhealthy academic system and general problem of
insecurity in the creeks of the Niger Delta.
1.6 THE
SCOPE OF STUDY
The scope of this study is restricted
to a period of 10 years, which is from 2000 to 2010. The scope is to enable the
detailed coverage of gas flaring problem since its operation in the Niger
Delta.
1.7 OPERATIONALISATION
OF CONCEPT
POLLUTION: This is the damage done to the air and water in the Niger
Delta by through the incidence of gas flaring.
GAS: It is a substance that is emitted into the air or into water.
It is otherwise poisonous
GAS FLARING: This is when the emitted substance into the air or water
carries a poisonous or air borne diseases to attack living being.
GREENHOUSE EMISSION: It is when air is affect by the
trapped emission that causes pollution or global warming.
CLIMATE CHANGE: This is the resultant effects gas flaring,
environmental distortion, deforestation amongst others that affect plants,
human temperature thereof generating heat and other effects on the earth
surface.
BLACK CLOUD: This is the thick black smoke - colour that gas flaring cause
in the environment of gas flaring.
CHRONIC BBRONCHITIS: This is the infection emanating from
the inhaling of polluted air, smoke and gaseous substance from gas flaring.
Such inhaling affects lungs and human breathing system.
LEGISLATIONS: These are laws made by the lawmakers to curb gas flaring and
other environmental destruction in Niger Delta.
OIL SPILL: This is when oil leakage is not control. It might degenerate into spill to cause to
the environment.
GLOBAL WARMING: This is the increase in temperature due to the
excessive heat of gas flaring into the atmosphere.
OIL PRODUCTION: The process of producing crude oil from the earth
surface by way of drilling.
DESTRUCTION: This is the damage cause by gas flaring on crops, habitats and
even human being.
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