Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Wetlands Ecosystem in the Niger Delta Region

Elekwachi, Wali; Phil-Eze, Philip Ogbonnia; Etuk, Etiese A.; Wizor, Collins H.; Onyishi, Chinedu Josephine

doi:10.4236/gep.2021.912015

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The oil companies that operate in the region, continuously denigrate the environment with impunity through incessant high levels of oil spills, with no effective sustainable practice. In 2012, Chevron's gas rig in Southern Ijaw caused accidental oil spillage and severe gas fire which lasted 46 days [46]. In 2013, between January 2013 and September 2014, NOSDRA reported that about 2,000 oil spill incidences occurred in the core of the Niger Delta with negative impacts on the ecosystem [46].…”

Section: Effects Of Oil Spillages and Gas Flaringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2012, Chevron's gas rig in Southern Ijaw caused accidental oil spillage and severe gas fire which lasted 46 days [46]. In 2013, between January 2013 and September 2014, NOSDRA reported that about 2,000 oil spill incidences occurred in the core of the Niger Delta with negative impacts on the ecosystem [46]. Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited was penalised 10m naira for not cleaning up the Qua Iboe terminal oil spill in 2015.…”

Section: Effects Of Oil Spillages and Gas Flaringmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Untitled

2024

IJSED

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This paper analyses the environmental sustainability issues and conflict in Nigeria's Niger Delta region (NDR). Nigeria belongs to the Organisation of the Petroleum Countries (OPEC), it is the sixth-largest exporter of oil. The country which derives more than 90% foreign exchange from petroleum products also undergoes (host communities) more than 90% socio-economic and environmental degradation. The Niger Delta communities continue to suffer from high incidences of oil spills and gas flaring which have grave negative impacts on the environment. The indigenes have taken to protests, agitations, demonstrations and violence to express their dissatisfaction with the deplorable environmental condition. Despite this, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) continue to operate with greater impunity. Oil spillages regularly occur in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria; as of 2018, there had been up to 9500 incidences of oil spill in a decade. Annually, on average about 115, 000 barrels (equivalent to about $5 million worth) are spilt into the environment. Sustainability has been an overarching theme over the past decades and industries including oil and gas have the responsibility to incorporate sustainable practices in their operations. The 1987 Brundtland emphasises meeting the needs of the present generation without affecting the ability to meet the needs of future generations. It argued that economic development could be achieved whilst protecting the environment. In tackling climate change, the 2015 COP21 Paris agreement called for member countries to implement measures that would keep global temperature below 20C. In 2015, the member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which includes acting on 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

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Section: Effects Of Oil Spillages and Gas Flaringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Oil Spillages and Gas Flaringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2024

IJSED

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“…Many authors have discussed oil spills and their ecological and social consequences in the Niger Delta (e.g. Kadafa 2012; Okafor-Yarwood 2018; Elekwachi et al 2009).…”

Section: Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…estimated that 13 million barrels of oil may have been spilled since production began in the region. Many authors have discussed oil spills and their ecological and social consequences in the Niger Delta (e.g Kadafa 2012;Okafor-Yarwood 2018;Elekwachi et al 2009…”

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confidence: 99%

The vulnerability of tropical peatlands to oil and gas exploration and extraction

Lawson

Coronado

Andueza

et al. 2022

Progress in Environmental Geography

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Tropical peatlands store globally significant quantities of carbon and are ecologically and culturally important, but little is known about their vulnerability to oil and gas exploration and extraction. Here, we analyse the exposure of tropical peatlands to the activities of the petroleum industry and review what is known about the sensitivity of peatlands to these activities. We find that 8.3% (107,000 km2) of the total area of tropical peatlands overlaps with a 30-km buffer area around oil and gas infrastructure. Major areas of overlap include the Sumatra Basin (Indonesia), the Niger Delta (Nigeria) and the Putumayo-Oriente-Marañón Basin (Peru/Ecuador/Colombia). Documented environmental impacts include deforestation and habitat loss associated with the exploration and development of oil fields, and contamination from spills of oil and produced water (well brine). Peatlands, and the ecosystem services they provide, are sensitive to these impacts due to unique aspects of their ecology and hydrology, the easy spread of contamination by flowing water, the long-term storage of contaminants in peat, and the slow degradation of oil under anoxic, waterlogged conditions. Given the potential negative consequences for human health, resource security, biodiversity, and carbon storage, we propose a research agenda to provide an improved evidence base to support effective governance.

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“…The geographical area of the Niger Delta covering some 38 km 2 is the receptacle of water and sediments from the vast catchment area of approximately 2 million km 2 of the Niger River system (Figure 1). The continuous deposition of sediments for several million years together with other delta development processes have resulted in the formation of a gently sloping prolific sedimentary basin characterized by a crisscrossing river and creek network (Figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Hydrological Characteristics: A Case Review of the Niger Delta

Abam¹,

Fubara²

2022

JWARP

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This paper reviews the significant contribution of hydrologic continuity in the development, evolution and fate of the Niger Delta. Formed from the aggregation of sediments from a drainage catchment area of over 2 million km 2 , the Niger Delta has evolved into a prolific sedimentary basin with a dense network of rivers and creeks. The ecological system is in a fragile state with fresh and saline water ecosystems maintaining a dynamic equilibrium. Rainfall typically varies from 2500 -4000 mm per year compared to average annual evaporation of about 1500 mm, resulting in net antecedent moisture. Over 70% of the rainfall occurs in 4 months between May and September, creating a potential for flooding. Water level varies from less than 1.5 m in the estuaries to about 8 m at the apex of the delta, with Nun River having a slightly higher elevation compared to Forcados River, implying that canals connecting both rivers at the same reach would experience water movements from Nun to Forcados River. Similarly, water level gradients vary across the stretch of the rivers from 8.6 to 9.5 × 10 −5 (cm/km) between Onitsha and Asamabiri, 7.5 to 7.7 × 10 −5 (cm/km) on the Forcados River downstream of Asamabiri, and from 7.4 to 7.6 × 10 −5 (cm/km) on the Nun River. At peak flood, about 23 × 10 3 m 3 /sec of runoff enters the Niger Delta. At the same time, about 16 × 10 3 m 3 /sec discharges from the estuaries into the ocean in a semi-diurnal tidal flow leaving a surplus that accumulates to cause flooding. The delta thus acts like a sponge, absorbing the shear amount of flow and releasing slowly stored water through at least twenty-one outlet estuaries into the Atlantic Ocean. The shear amount of discharge overwhelms the capacity of the network of distributaries and predisposes the delta to flooding. Assessment of the capacity of the rivers to evacuate pollutants showed that rivers to the west of Brass which are fed by Forcados River exhibited relatively stronger flux efficiencies prior to 1998 but are presently weaker compared to rivers fed by Nun. The rivers to the east between New Calabar and Imo Rivers exhibited very weak ebb tide asymmetry or net upstream flow largely because

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Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Wetlands Ecosystem in the Niger Delta Region

Cited by 7 publications

References 16 publications

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The vulnerability of tropical peatlands to oil and gas exploration and extraction

Analysis of Hydrological Characteristics: A Case Review of the Niger Delta

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