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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 4
Publication Date: April 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.84.9976.
Uwakwe, S. I., Chijioke, N. J., & Audu-Bako, S. (2021). Strategies for Managing Oil Spill Related Conflicts in the Niger Delta: A Case
Study of Bayelsa State. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 465-483.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Strategies for Managing Oil Spill Related Conflicts in the Niger
Delta: A Case Study of Bayelsa State
Stanley Ikechukwu Uwakwe
Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies
University of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria
Chijioke, N. J.
Peace and Development Programme
Salem University Lokoja
Susan Audu-Bako
Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja
ABSTRACT
The discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri-a town in the present Bayelsa state, Niger- Delta region of Nigeria) in 1956 and the subsequent exploration activities have over
the years impacted tremendously not only on the ecosystem and livelihood pattern
of the Niger Delta but on the pattern of conflicts that has trended.. While resources
accruable to Nigeria from sale of crude oil are shared by all, the impacts of oil spill
an offshoot of crude oil exploration activities are borne solely by the Niger Delta
region. Oil spill appears to have found a permanent abode in Bayelsa state; from
Southern Ijaw to Sagbama local governments, Olodiama to Azuzuama communities.
Local communities are faced with the problem of continuous oil spill. This in turn
has brought about conflicts between oil bearing communities and oil companies.
These conflicts in some instances led to shut down of operations of oil companies,
vandalism, and reduction of Nigeria’s crude export. In view of the illustrated
background, this study examined the strategies for management of oil spill related
conflicts in Bayelsa state regarding that oil spill is a key impact of crude oil
exploration activity. Findings revealed that the strategies deployed in the
management of oil spill in the state can be categorised into three: community
strategies, regulators and non-governmental organisations strategies.
INTRODUCTION
Within the past few years, much attention has been directed towards environmental
deterioration caused by man’s activities which have adversely affected the lives of plants and
animals both on land, water and air in addition to the livelihood of the people. One of such
activity that has drawn significant concern across the world is crude oil exploration. Oil
exploration is an activity that can affect the environment negatively especially when accidents
occur in operations resulting to spillage of oil. The impacts of crude oil operations to the
environment, as a result of exploration activities both locally and globally have been on actions
to prevent the high risk of oil spillage and the accompanying environmental hazards (Ojakorotu
and Gilbert, 2010). However, the exposure to risk has not received help by the major
stakeholders in the oil industry sector who struggle for the ‘liquid gold’. This has put a lot of
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 4, April-2021
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
pressure on the oil producing communities and the surrounding environment. Egwu (2012)
observed that one of the factors that cause discharge of oil to the environmental is the unethical
engineering operations practiced by the industries involved. A classic example of the
destructive impact of oil spill is the Exxon Valdez oil spill which occurred in Prince William
Sound, Alaska, United States of America on March 24, 1989. An estimated crude oil spill of
260,000 to 750,000 barrels was discharged to the environment while the spill lasted. Another
example is the recent BP deep-water horizon oil spill on 20 April 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico
(United States of America). The spill was alleged to be caused by the explosion and sinking of
the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. It caused an oil discharge for 87 days with an estimated the total
discharge at 4.9 million barrels, (Egwu, 2012). As a result of lessons learnt from these and other
oil spills, the prevention, response and management of oil spills is being given top priority
worldwide in order to avoid the economic and environmental hazards of an oil spill.
According to Takon (2014:587-588), oil and gas are Nigeria’s strategic minerals; “official”
government records estimates indicates that the oil sector accounts for 70-80 per cent of the
Federal Government’s revenue (depending on the oil price), around 90 per cent of export
earnings, and about 25 per cent of GDP measured at constant basic prices”. At the global level,
Nigeria is among the world’s top 10 oil exporters, and Niger Delta generates a substantial
amount of the nation’s production capacity, and houses a significant proportion of the country’s
oil infrastructure (Alagoa, 1999). According to Twumasi & Merem, (2006; Uyigue & Agho,
2007), the Niger Delta region comprises of the following states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross
River, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Rivers respectively.
The significance of the Niger Delta region to Nigeria’s oil-centric economy cannot be
overemphasised. Hence, the region attracts global attention because of the international
importance of oil and its centrality to the global economy. According to Klare, (2001), this is
demonstrated, first, by oil’s high energy content based on available technology; second, the
relative cheapness of oil in terms of average production cost vis-à-vis other researched sources
of energy; and third and no less important, the apparent ease of transportation of the product
inte rnally and externally. Klare’s study succinctly captures the importance of oil as the only
energy source that is in intensive use in every modern economy. In this context, Roberts, (2004)
opined that Nigeria’s huge offshore and onshore crude oil deposits in the Niger Delta region of
Nigeria established the country as an important petroleum prospective zone since traditional
basins are witnessing decline and renewable energy sources are not keeping pace with rising
global consumption, particularly in China, India, and the United States.
Furthermore, Niger Delta’s importance is highlighted in the fact that significant oil
infrastructure in Nigeria are domiciled therein due to the exploration and production of on- shore and deep-water oil resources. These activities brought about massive oil spill and
environmental degradation of the region. However, due to long years of neglect, violence and
conflict became frequent occurrences in the region. Indeed, between 1999- 2009, the region
was hotbed a bed for kidnappings, pipeline vandalism, etc leading to the emergence of various
warlords and agitators who carved out territories of influence for themselves. Bayelsa state
which is home to the Ijaw speaking people in the Niger Delta is at the epic centre of these
insurrections. The conflicts in the region posed fundamental threat to Nigeria’s oil dependent
economy.
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Uwakwe, S. I., Chijioke, N. J., & Audu-Bako, S. (2021). Strategies for Managing Oil Spill Related Conflicts in the Niger Delta: A Case Study of Bayelsa
State. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 465-483.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.9976
Consequently, from 1999, the Federal government of Nigeria began concerted efforts aimed at
addressing the various conflict generating factors in the region. In pursuance of, initiatives such
as: the Amnesty Programme, establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta, Niger Delta
Development Commission was introduced to mitigate conflicts in the region. Also, the National
Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was re-energised to address oil spill related
issues in the region as well as make and enforce laws and contingency plans for the prevention
and control of oil spills. In view of these various initiatives by government on management of
oil spill to prevent conflicts, it is pertinent to examine these strategies, their effectiveness and
acceptability in oil bearing communities as well as the challenges of implementation in order
to identify a more appropriate solution of prevention and management as a precursor to
safeguard the environment, society and economy from the menace of oil spill related conflicts.
PROBLEMATIC INSIGHT OF OIL SPILL MANAGEMENT
Various studies related to oil spill in Nigeria at large and the Niger delta in particular has been
conducted; these studies have been categorised into studies on the institutional frameworks
for managing oil spills in Nigeria; problems of oil spill management; impact of oil pollution on
livelihood and the environment; history of crude oil discovery and oil spillages in Nigeria.
Olaniyan (2015, Kadafa & Mohamad 2012), examined the institutional frameworks for
managing oil spills in Nigeria. Their studies examined the efficacy and effectiveness of relevant
legislation providing for institutional mechanisms for responding to oil spill control and
containment in Nigeria. The study highlighted the weaknesses of the current regulatory
frameworks, and suggests legal reforms to make the relevant government agencies response
approach more efficient, effective the relevant need to harmonize several overlapping
legislations and governance institutions on oil spill response and management to ensure
coherence and systemic integration.
Studies such as (Badejo, 2004, Nwilo, and Badejo, 2005a, 2005b, Ukoli, 2005) focused on the
problems of oil spill management in Nigeria. The studies appraised the various problems
associated with oil spill management. These scholars recommended strengthening of relevant
government agencies and posited that there is need to create awareness among the populace
on the implications of spill incidence on the environment.
Ejiba,, Onya & Adams (2016, Odeyemi & Ogunseitan, 1985, Kadafa 2012,) examined the impact
of oil pollution on livelihood and the environment. The studies highlighted the negative impact
of oil pollution in Nigeria with particular reference to the Niger Delta region noting that it has
caused significant damage on livelihood of mostly farming and fishing communities. According
to the studies, the situation has increased the vulnerability of households thereby affecting their
wellbeing adversely, with a threat on the region’s future means of sustenance; while
governments response and remediation efforts aimed at restoring the regions ecosystem have
not being very effective.
Uyigue & Ogbeibu, 2007; Omofonmwa & Odia, 2009) focused on the history of crude oil
discovery in Nigeria. The studies traced it to Oloibiri village in Bayelsa state in 1956 while
commercial production began with a production of about 6,000 barrels a day in 1958.