Challenges and Prospect of Environmental Remediation/Restoration in Niger Delta of Nigeria: The Case of Ogoniland

Abstract

The Federal Government of Nigeria in July, 2006 instituted an independent study carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to ascertain the nature and extent of oil contamination in Ogoniland as a precondition for reconciliation between the Ogonis on the one hand, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria and the Federal Government of Nigeria on the other hand. The UNEP’s field observations and scientific investigations reveal that oil contamination in Ogoni land is widespread and severely impacting many components of the environment (biophysical & socio-economic). It is noteworthy that oil Production in Ogoni was stopped abruptly in 1993 following agitation by the Ogonis against the Federal Government of Nigeria. .At shut down in 1993, facilities were exposed to frequent sabotage resulting in fires, oil theft and illegal oil refining leading to significant environmental degradation (spills).The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria, a major operating oil trans-national company in Ogoni land has publicly demonstrated commitment towards full implementation of the UNEP Report by embarking on intensive and extensive remediation of impacted sites in Ogoniland. This paper is intended to share with the audience, SPDC’s remediation efforts in Ogoniland, the challenges to complete restoration of Ogoniland and the way forward.

Keywords: crude oil theft, illegal refining, hydrocarbon, Ogoniland, oil spillage, remediation, UNEP report, SPDC,