Oil spillThe thorny issue of oil spillage and the debates around it are as old as when Nigeria began crude oil exploration in the Niger Delta region. But it was the 1970 oil spill in Ogoniland, which led to a £26m fine against Shell in Nigeria that eventually put the country in the eye of the storm globally. Many judgments have since been delivered against oil companies, the Nigerian government and/or their representatives and supervising agencies for the degradation of oil-bearing communities and losses of lives and property.
However, the phenomenon has failed to abate, as the Federal Government, between 1970 and 2000, reported about 7000 spills. Given the country’s weak regulatory oversight, as well as poor data gathering capacity, statistics of data spill is, according to many experts, inaccurate and mainly underreported. Amnesty International had reported that since 2014, Eni alone had about 820 spills in the Niger Delta accounting for about 4.1 million litres. Also, since 20
Prof. Olawuyi
Damilola Olawuyi is a Professor of Law and Director, Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES Institute), Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. He is also Vice-Chair, International Law Association. In this interview with KINGSLEY JEREMIAH, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria raised concerns about the continuous environmental challenges resulting from oil exploration in the Niger Delta region and proposes better ways of resolving them.
What is your assessment of the environmental concerns in the Niger Delta region?
ENVIRONMENTAL problems in the Niger Delta are undoubtedly justice concerns. Environmental justice is achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access to decision-making processes.
Curious gaps that may undermine PIB s gains — Nigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News guardian.ng - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from guardian.ng Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Udeme Akpan
THE price of Bonny Light, Nigeria’s oil grade, Thursday, hovered at $71.73 per barrel, as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, puts nation’s output at 1.344 million barrels per day, mb/d.
This showed an excess of $31.73 per barrel, as the N7.89 trillion 2021 budget was based on $40 per barrel and 1.86 mb/d, including Condensate.
However, in its Monthly Oil Report (June), released, yesterday, OPEC, disclosed that Nigeria produced 1.344 mb/d, excluding Condensate, based on information obtained from direct sources.
Nevertheless, the organization said that the nation produced 3.88 mb/d, excluding Condensate, when information obtained from secondary sources are considered.