Problems
Oil spills caused by Shell
Shell is one of the largest oil companies operating in Nigeria, and it has been involved in several oil spills in the region. These spills have had devastating impacts on the local environment, including the destruction of aquatic life, contamination of drinking water sources, and damage to farmland.
Environmental impact
The Shell oil spills have caused significant damage to the environment in the Niger Delta region. The spills have contaminated soil, water, and air, leading to the loss of biodiversity and destruction of natural habitats. The polluted waterways have led to the death of fish, which is a primary source of livelihood for the people in the region. The oil spills have also led to the destruction of farmland, making it difficult for farmers to grow crops. The impact of the oil spill in Nigeria on the environment has been significant and widespread. Oil spills in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria have been occurring for decades, and have caused extensive damage to the environment, including: 1.Water pollution: The oil spills have contaminated water sources, making it difficult for people to access clean and safe drinking water. This has also had a devastating effect on aquatic life, as fish and other species are either killed or driven away from the affected areas. 2. Soil degradation: The oil spills have also contaminated the soil, making it difficult for plants to grow and affecting the agricultural productivity of the region. This has led to a loss of biodiversity and degradation of the ecosystem. 3. Air pollution: The oil spills have also contributed to air pollution, as toxic gases and chemicals are released into the atmosphere. This has had a negative impact on the health of the people in the region, leading to respiratory problems and other health issues.
Health impact
Oil spills in Nigeria caused by Shell have had a significant impact on the health of the local population and the environment. These spills have contaminated the soil and water, resulting in damage to crops, fish, and other food sources. People in the affected areas may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals such as benzene, which can cause cancer and other health problems. According to a report by Amnesty International, oil spills in Nigeria have caused severe health problems for the local population, including respiratory problems, skin rashes, and miscarriages. In some areas, children have developed serious health problems, including stunted growth and learning disabilities, as a result of exposure to toxic substances from oil spills.
Economic impact
One of the most significant economic impacts of oil spills in Nigeria has been the loss of revenue from fishing and farming, which are major sources of income for local communities. The spills have polluted the waterways, making it difficult or impossible for fish to survive and for crops to grow. This has led to a significant decline in the productivity of these industries, resulting in economic hardship for the affected communities. In addition to the direct impact on fishing and farming, oil spills have also led to a decline in tourism in the region. The pollution of beaches and waterways has made them unattractive to tourists, resulting in a loss of revenue for the tourism industry. This has had a ripple effect on the local economy, with many businesses that rely on tourism struggling to survive.
Socio-Economic Impact
The Shell oil spills have had a severe socio-economic impact on the affected communities. The spills have led to the loss of livelihoods, as fishing and farming have become impossible in the polluted areas. The destruction of farmland has also led to food insecurity, as the communities are no longer able to produce enough food to feed themselves. The oil spills have also led to the displacement of communities, as people are forced to move away from their homes to find alternative sources of livelihood.
Solutions
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project
Author: Federal Ministry of Environment
Environmental Remediation, Sustainable Livelihood, Provision of Potable water, Public health analysis in impacted communities of Ogoniland. HYPREP was established under the Federal Ministry of Environment to achieve the under listed objectives in Ogoniland and other impacted communities: determine the scope, means and modalities of remediation of soil and ground water contamination in impacted communities as may be recommended by HYPREP Governing Council and remedy them enhance local capacity for better environmental management and promote awareness of sound environmental management as well as ensure livelihoods and sustainable development ensure security and promote peace building efforts in impacted communities strengthen governance, transparency and accountability in the region.
Source: https://hyprep.gov.ng/
Gallery
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Timelines
2023
November
A UK court ruled that a group of Nigerian fishermen can bring claims against Shell Plc over oil pollution that devastated their communities, as a long-running legal case edges closer to a trial. The 13,000 fishermen from the Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger Delta region claim that Shell breached their right to a clean environment under Nigerian constitutional law, according to an emailed statement from their law firm Leigh Day. The court ruling deals with procedural issues before a trial in a case that’s been going on for eight years. “I am not going to strike out the claims,” the judge said, adding that such a move would be “draconian,” given the “catastrophically environmentally damaging oil pollution in the Niger Delta.” Shell said the court also ruled that the claimants have failed to identify the particular spill or spills that caused them damage. The Ogale and Bille litigation does little to address the real causes of pollution in the Niger Delta, the company added in a statement.
May
An Eni spokesperson said the oil spills were due to theft to feed illegal refineries as well as illegal exports and sabotage but the company undertook to remedy all spills. Most of the gas produced from Eni's Nigerian unit was converted into LNG and fed to local power plants, the spokesperson said, adding that "Eni conducts its activities according to the sector's international environmental best practices, without any distinction on a country basis." Toxins that cause burns, lung problems and risk of cancer were widespread while oil company-led clean-ups were often poorly executed and could further contaminate soil and groundwater, the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission's report said. The commission adopted a United Nations model used to calculate the clean-up cost of spills in Niger Delta's Ogoniland more than a decade ago and found that "the clean-up will cost US$12 billion over 12 years" in Bayelsa.
2022
June 05
A parliamentary committee summons environment minister Mohammed Abdullahi and HYPREP management over failure to clean up Ogoniland despite payment of $1bn for the project.
2021
October 25
Contractors in charge of the Bodo community cleanup in Ogoniland said 2 million litres (440,000 gallons) of crude oil were recovered from the ongoing exercise by SPDC in the area.
2020
Shell admits to causing oil spills in the Niger Delta, after years of denying responsibility. The admission comes as part of a legal settlement with the Bodo community, which had been fighting for compensation for over a decade.
2017
March 25, 2017 Shell agrees to clean up Bodo, which was affected by two spills in 2008. July 26, 2017 The UN pledges continued support for the execution of the Ogoni cleanup.
2016
June 02
Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launches the Ogoni cleanup, alongside UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, then the country’s environment minister.
2015
November 03
Forty-five years after an oil spill at Bomu, researchers find blackened soil and layers of oil on the water despite Shell’s claims to have remediated the site twice in 1975 and 2012.
2013
February 1 The Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology meets with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) over the environmental degradation of Ogoniland. June 2013 An explosion occurs at a Shell pipeline, spilling 6,000 barrels of crude oil into the creeks and waterways of Bodo. The Ogoni people vow not to allow oil exploration to resume in the area until conditions addressing challenges of environmental pollution are met.
2012
May 07
A spill occurs in Kegbara-Dere, about 200 metres (650 feet) from the Bomu manifold.
2011
August
UNEP publishes a report on the environmental impact of oil industry operations in Ogoniland, showing widespread contamination of soil and groundwater and recommending a comprehensive cleanup of affected areas. After a class action suit in the UK, Shell accepts responsibility for the double rupture of the Bodo-Bonny Trans-Niger Pipeline that caused two massive oil spills in Bodo. The Trans-Niger carries up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day through the community.
2009
February 19 Ten weeks after the second Bodo spill, between February 19 and 21, Nigeria’s NOSDRA, Shell and the Bodo community go on a joint investigation visit. Afterwards, Shell says the spill was caused by equipment failure due to natural corrosion. April 12 Fire and a spill at the Bomu manifold cause oil to flow into the swamp. The manifold is a junction where several Shell pipelines meet in Kegbara Dere, Ogoniland. The fire burns for 36 hours. November 30 At the Nigerian government’s request, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) launches an assessment of the impact of contamination from oil across the Ogoni region.
2008
August 28 The first of two massive oil spills occurs in the Bodo community due to a fault in the Trans-Niger Pipeline. The leak goes on for at least four weeks. Shell says 1,640 barrels of oil were spilled but experts estimate the leak to be nearly three times that – as much as 4,000 barrels. December 7 A second spill occurs in the Bodo community.
2006
April
Ogoni people report an oil spill from a damaged pipeline owned by Shell.
2003
February
An explosion at Shell’s abandoned Yorla oil field causes another major oil spill.
2001
April 26
A spill occurs in the Yorla community that lasts till May 7, 2001. It triggers a fire that consumes crops of commercial foods and medicinal herbs.
1993
Ken Saro-Wiwa, a Nigerian environmental activist and leader of the Ogoni people, is arrested and later executed by the Nigerian government after a highly controversial trial. Many believe that Shell played a role in his death due to his activism against the company's operations in the region.
1990
An oil spill in the Ogoni region of the Niger Delta, caused by a ruptured pipeline, affects about 30,000 local residents and destroys their farmlands and fishing grounds.
1980
An oil spill in the Eleme region of the Niger Delta affects over 20,000 people and causes severe damage to the local environment.
1970
Shell begins oil exploration and production in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. An oil spill, possibly the first documented one, occurs in the Boobanabe community as a result of a fire at Shell’s Bomu oil well.