Introduction
Nigeria is a country rich in natural resources, with its substantial oil and gas reserves accounting for a huge chunk of the country’s economy. As Africa’s largest oil producer and 12th largest globally, Nigeria extracts around 2.3 million barrels of oil daily. This extensive productions has significant economic benefits, with oil revenues contributing over $28 billion annually and constituting more than 90% of the nation’s total income.
Despite these economic advantages, the environmental costs of Nigeria’s oil industry have been profound. The Niger Delta region, known for its abundant oil fields and wells, and as the hub of oil production, has particularly suffered from severe environmental degradation due to numerous oil spills and extensive gas flaring. Over the years, numerous oil spill incidents have been recorded, ranging from minor spills to catastrophic events involving hundreds of thousands of barrels.
These environmental damages have led to unrest and conflict between local host communities and oil companies as these host communities seek to protect their environmental rights.
In response to these concerns, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) have become a crucial tool for identifying and mitigating the environmental risks associated with offshore oil and gas operations.
Environmental Impact Assessment In Nigeria
Environmental Impact Assessment (hereinafter referred to as EIA) is a formal process by which a proposed activity with potentially significant environmental, social and economic costs is studied with a view to evaluating its impacts, examining alternative approaches and developing measures to mitigate and prevent the negative impacts.
In many developing countries, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) systems are still in their nascent stages and have not yet matured to resemble those in more developed nations. Unlike the uniform EIA frameworks found in places like the United Kingdom and the United States—where a single piece of legislation governs EIAs for all national projects—Nigeria’s approach is characterized by a complex array of regulations. Nigeria employs three separate EIA systems to oversee nationally funded projects, creating a patchwork of rules that lacks the cohesion seen in more established systems. Additionally, while countries like the UK and US typically employ multi-disciplinary teams for conducting EIAs, Nigeria’s approach varies; it uses both multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary assessors, with the latter explicitly supported under specific legislation (Decree 88).
These differences indicate that Nigeria's EIA frameworks are evolving in ways that diverge significantly from the models established in more developed countries, such as the US National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. This divergence raises questions about whether Nigeria's evolving EIA practices are adequately progressing towards internationally recognized standards.
EIAs In Offshore Oil And Gas Operations In Nigeria
Environmental policy within Nigeria's petroleum industry has evolved significantly since the early 20th century. It began in 1914 with the Minerals Ordinance, enacted by the colonial government, which aimed to prevent water pollution during mining and mineral exploration activities, including oil prospecting. Following independence, Nigeria saw several key legislative efforts to protect the environment within the petroleum sector, such as the Mineral Oils (Safety) Regulations of 1963, the Petroleum Regulations of 1967, and the Oil in Navigable Waters Act of 1968. However, it wasn't until the Petroleum Act of 1969 that environmental policy became more assertive. This Act granted extensive regulatory powers to the Minister overseeing petroleum affairs, including the authority to establish rules for environmental protection.
A more focused approach to environmental management in the petroleum industry began in 1988 with the creation of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). This marked a turning point, as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) took on a more proactive role in environmental oversight, guided by the National Policy on the Environment (NPE) introduced in 1989. Under this framework, the DPR, empowered by various statutes, established stringent environmental standards for the petroleum industry. In 1991, the DPR released the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN), which were later revised in 1998 and 2002. However, despite these regulatory advances, much of the legislation has historically focused on managing petroleum operations rather than comprehensively addressing the broader environmental impacts of these activities.
Environmental Impact Of Offshore Oil And Gas Operations In Nigeria
Numerous studies have explored the environmental impacts of Nigeria's oil industry, with research highlighting significant damage resulting from oil operations. Early studies and reports by Awobanjo (1981), the World Bank (1995), and others have documented these effects, revealing that oil extraction activities often cause immediate environmental harm and have broader implications for sustainable development in affected regions. The environmental degradation includes oil spills, gas flaring, and pipeline leaks, which harm local ecosystems, disrupt plant and animal life, and contribute to climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the primary environmental issues in Nigeria's oil industry is gas flaring, which releases large quantities of methane and carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to global warming. Reports indicate that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of gas flaring in the world, emitting approximately 35 million cubic tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Oil spills also have a devastating effect, particularly in the Niger Delta’s aquatic ecosystems, where thousands of spill incidents have been recorded, releasing millions of barrels of oil into the environment.
In addition to environmental damage, oil operations have led to economic and social tensions in Nigeria. Oil spills and gas flaring adversely affect local communities, leading to disputes over compensation for environmental damage, which in turn has fuelled social unrest and conflicts. Sabotage and oil theft are also significant challenges, contributing to further environmental degradation and economic losses. Pipeline vandalism, often driven by illegal fuel siphoning and theft, has resulted in numerous explosions and fires, causing substantial loss of life and property.
While some oil companies have increased efforts to improve community relations and mitigate environmental damage through corporate social responsibility initiatives, these measures are often insufficient. Many studies have focused on the economic and political aspects of Nigeria’s oil industry, but there is a need for more research on the environmental impacts and long-term consequences of pollution and contamination caused by oil extraction. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective policies and practices to protect Nigeria's environment and support sustainable development.
Conclusion
Despite the establishment of Federal Environmental Protection Agencies and state environmental protection agencies, effective environmental regulation and pollution control remain significant challenges. The current laws do not adequately address industrial pollution, and there are no specific regulations or penalties for chemical pollution in water. Moreover, Nigeria lacks a cohesive national policy to integrate environmental management with sustainable development goals, highlighting a critical gap in the country's approach to environmental pollution
