The Niger Delta, a region of Environmental Hazards and Deteriorating Environmental Quality.

Abstract

The Niger Delta has witnessed a gradual but very intense deterioration in the quality of her biogeophysical environment since the commencement of the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas resources in the region for about seven decades. It is estimated that Nigeria flares about 70 million tonnes of gas daily, which is 19.7% of the global total; releasing tens of millions of tonnes of volatile organic compounds, oxides of carbon, sulphur and nitrogen into the environment. Oil spills are increasingly becoming the most common environmental hazard that undermines the region’s environmental quality. About 13 million ca bbls of crude oil have been spilled into the Niger Delta environment, during the past 65+ years which have destroyed vast mangrove biomes, contaminated surface and groundwater and introduced carcinogens into the food chain. Rising radiological pollution is another very worrisome trend being observed in the Niger Delta. Radiation levels of up to 0.016 mRh^-1, about 45% higher than the normal background level in the environment; while alpha and beta activities of up to 16.95 Bq/l and 135.88 Bq/l respectively have been recorded in surface waters. Other environmental hazards include coastal and riverbank erosion, nypa palm and water hyacinth invasion, inefficient waste management practices, flooding, et cetera, that plague the region. All these environmental hazards acting in collusion have affected not only the livelihood of the people, but have also compromised their health and wellbeing.

Keywords: biogeophysical, environment, biome, hazard, radiological, carcinogen

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/15-3-03

Publication date: May 30th 2025