Niger Delta Oil Disaster: A Essay

Anyanwu and Obire (2009) note that oil spills like those seen in the Niger Delta leave soil barren for years, devastating not only the resources that were present at the time of the spill, but eliminating any resources that could be reaped from the area in future years (Anyanwu and Obire 211). This notion was mirrored by a 2009 agricultural study conducted in the area of the Niger Delta, which found that the negative impact of the oil spills on agricultural production was found to, reduce crop yield, pollute the rivers for fishing, and reduce land productivity and farm income, along with the standard of living of the Nigerian people (Aviomoh, Okoh and Ojogwu 62).

The future state of the affected area continues to look bleak, especially from the outside world who is largely incapable of understanding Nigerian motivations to continue serving the oil industry in a manner that sacrifices its land and further, its people. A recent assessment from a Stockholm-based environmental journal noted the following: "International oil companies have enjoyed a cozy relationship with their partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and with the Nigerian government, whose coffers they fill" (Jernelov 363).

In viewing the statistics at hand, it is clear to see that Nigeria and its citizens have paid a high price for the economic growth brought on by the oil industry, and the payoff does not appear to be worth it, especially in viewing the prospects of Nigeria's environmental and economic future.With the world beginning to make significant headway on the path to environmental protection and reduced reliance on oil in so many areas of life, Nigeria's consistent focus on the resource with little regard to the environment will likely prove to be their greatest downfall. Eventually, the world will steer away from oil use, and world economies will begin to depend on the status of the environments around them. When this time comes, and the world is forced to draw clean fuel and resources from the environments they've worked within for years, Nigeria will face a rude awakening that will continue to haunt the country in so many ways for years to come.

References

Akpomuie, Orhioghene. "Tragedy of Commons: Analysis of Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta." Journal of Sustainable Development, 4.2. (2011): 200-211. Web.

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Anyanwu, E.C. And Obire, O. "Impact of Various Concentrations of Crude Oil on Soil."

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 6.2. (2011) 211-221. Web. Retrieved from: ProQuest Database.

Aviomoh, E., Okoh, E. And Ojogwu, C. "The Impact of Oil Spillage on Agricultural

Production among Farmers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria." Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 1.6. (2009): 62-74. Web. Retrieved from: ProQuest Database.

Jernelov, A. "The Threats from Oil Spills: Then, Now, and in the Future," Ambio, 39.5-6.

(2010): 353-367. Web. Retrieved from: ProQuest Database.

Vidal, John. "Niger Delta Oil Spills Clean-Up Will Take 30.....