Nigeria remains the example of all the evils caused by oil on the environment and the local population. new Oil spill from a Shell facility polluting farmland and rivers in this African country, damaging the livelihoods of fishermen and farmers in the Niger Delta. This is precisely a residential area that has been enduring environmental pollution caused by the oil industry for a long time and has a major role in this country.
Nigerian officials confirmed to the AP agency that the spill came from the Trans-Niger oil pipeline operated by Shell, which runs through several settlements in the Elema district. Oganiland, a region where the energy giant has already been rejected from local communities for oil projects
While the volume of oil spilled into the natural environment has not yet been measured, conservation agencies have released images of oil-filled farmland, as well as contaminated slabs of water, dead fish and animals trapped in crude oil.
Spills happen frequently in this area due to vandalism by oil thieves and the lack of maintenance of oil pipelines, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), but currently being produced is “one of the major ones”. .
“One of the worst in last 16 years in Ogoniland”Its presence monitors leaks in the delta region, Fyneface Dumnamene, an environmental activist from the region, told AP.
Affected farmers and fishermen
Apparently, this leak started on June 11, lasted more than a week and affected the School River, which merged with other rivers and eventually emptied into the Atlantic Ocean.. According to Dumnamene, the spill affected entire communities and displaced more than 300 fishermen. The spill would have been contained by now, but all the material spilling onto the farms and the School River is still pending.
Shell and oil assets in Nigeria, has always been involved in controversy. The company stopped production in Ogoniland over 20 years ago due to serious unrest as the public rejected the project due to its strong environmental impact.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is overwhelmingly dependent on oil resources in the Niger Delta. But activists say pollution from this industry prevents residents from having clean water, harms agriculture and fisheries, and exacerbates violent conflict.
These local assets They fear Shell will now blame residents for these breakdowns. Oil companies often attribute these failures to vandalism by oil thieves, avoiding property liability.
London-based Shell said it has formed an investigation team collaboration with Ogoniland residents and local authorities to determine the cause and impact of the leak. According to the company’s statement, it wants to “take the necessary measures for the safety of the environment, equipment and people.”
At the request of the Nigerian government, UNEP conducted an independent environmental assessment of the situation in Ogoniland and published a report in 2011: Shell and Nigerian government criticized for 50 years of pollution and suggested a multi-billion-dollar sweep. Although the government announced such a cleanup in 2016, there is little evidence that it ever took place.
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]