Pipeline Oil Leaks Spark Concerns in Southern Nigeria

Locals in southern Nigeria claim that pipeline oil spills are becoming more frequent and endangering the lives of nearby villages. A major source of income for many residents are farming and fishing which have been negatively impacted by the most recent leak. Some farmers even stated to the media that they have lost millions of Nigerian Naira during the harvest season. Fish ponds and rice were both ready for harvest but they were unable to do so because of the oil spill.

Environmentalists have grown more concerned as a result of the spills. Residents have been told by experts that the Niger Delta has the lowest life expectancy in the entire country. The Niger Delta region has a 41.42 percent rate but other regions have 52.53 percent rates which is a difference of around 10 percent. Therefore it is believed to be linked to pollution caused by the oil industry. They are consuming, inhaling and consuming hydrocarbons. Thus life expectancy is negatively impacted and there are health consequences.

The latest spill was the fourth in three months and in addition to long term remedies to protect the environment for future generations, activists are calling for immediate action to address the problem.

The majority of Nigeria’s decades old oil pipelines are rusted and vulnerable to leaks and vandalism despite the fact that they are essential for moving oil. Concerns over Nigeria’s oil production are raised by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s claim that it does not have the money to repair these pipelines.

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The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission reports that over 3 million barrels of oil have leaked through those pipes in the first five months of this year. That’s around N400 billion or $265 million at an average price of $88 per barrel.