1.1 Introduction
Oil spillage is the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into an environment, but it also includes animal fats, vegetable oils, and other non-petroleum oils. Crude oil spills are mainly caused by equipment failure, operational errors, and leaks from obsolete pipes or willful damage. Oil spillage is an environmental problem in Nigeria. It is common in oil producing areas. During a spill, oil floats on land and water surface and forms an oil slick that is about 0.1mm thick continuing to spread; the stick becomes 0.01mm thick. Oil is a very complex mixture of predominantly hydrocarbons the light {less dense} portions of oil are more toxic but also more likely to evaporate. Evaporation can reduce the volume of crude oil slick. Heavier oil can wash to the shore causing serious short-term harm to shellfish and plants life. Oil spillage on soil makes it unsatisfactory for the plant growth.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The high concentration of oil in accidental spills represents a serious environmental threat, until the oil is diluted and/or degraded. Low temperature, ice and lack of infrastructure will generally make the impact of oil spills in the Arctic longer lasting than at lower latitudes. The spreading, fate and impact of oil spilled in different habitats differ, with the marine spill having the potential to impact large areas and resources far away from the spill site, while terrestrial spill are generally confined to limited areas. Oil is toxic to almost all organisms.
The toxic effect depends on the composition and concentration of the oil, and the sensitivity of the species affected. A species may have a high individual sensitivity and low population sensitivity, if individuals are evenly and/or widely distributed and have a high reproductive capacity. This is the case for many species at lower trophic levels. Population impacts are therefore more likely at the higher trophic levels, where many species occur in significant concentrations and have a lower reproduction rate.
Due to the diversity of oil types, habitats and the importance of weather conditions for the fate of the oil, impact predictions can only be in general terms. However, from toxicological tests and impact studies after oil spill events, a body of general knowledge exists. This information can be used to assess the potential impact of oil spills in different environments, as well as minimizing potential impacts through planning of activities to avoid the most sensitive areas and periods and planning of oil spill cleanup.
The relevant knowledge for dealing with environmental impacts of oil spills in Niger Delta consists of general knowledge on the fate in different habitats, effects of oil on different animal groups (especially in the Arctic), and area (site) specific information from Niger Delta on the dynamics of ecosystems and populations likely to be impacted from an oil spill. Although there still are a number of general information gaps for oil spills in the Arctic, research especially in Niger Delta region have provided important information of relevance to Niger Delta conditions. However in order to fully apply this knowledge area-specific information from Niger Delta on sensitive areas and on population dynamics is needed.
According to Egwu (2012), one of the factors that cause discharge of oil to the environmental is the unethical engineering operations practiced by the industries involved. As a result of lessons learnt from these and other oil spills, the prevention, response and management of oil spills is being given top priority worldwide especially in oil producing countries such as Nigeria in order to circumvent the economic and environmental hazards of an oil spill.
To this end, several initiatives have come to the fore. One of such initiatives is to make and enforce laws and contingency plans for the prevention and control of oil spills. It is however curious that in most developing oil producing nations including Nigeria, the management of oil spill to prevent and respond to unwanted oil discharge even after so many years of petroleum exploration and production activities have not seen a reduction in the number of spillage occurrence. This has caused the government to resolve to grossly inadequate measure of monetary compensation to the victims of oil spill rather than concerning itself with the more appropriate solution of prevention and management to safeguard the environment, society and economy from the menace that is an oil spill.
Therefore, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to investigate the Effects of Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that oil spillage impacts to the environment can lead to unwanted migration of people from the areas. Spillage of oil from exploration activities in the many parts of the world has lead to massive environmental degradation in the past decades. Such problems include contamination of water bodies, danger to aquatic life, destruction of flora and farmlands which includes resort centers, destruction of properties, loss of lives and many more (Badejo and Nwilo, 2008).
According to Nwilo and Badejo (2005), the consequences of oil spill is far-reaching as it impacts negatively on the economy of a region, pollutes water thereby health of the local community, contaminated soils rendering it useless for farming and the reputation of the oil companies involved. These environmental consequences are some of the impacts of oil spillage observed in the Niger Delta Region of Ughelli South Local Government Area but could be more.
There are a lot of environmental problems in Nigeria such as desert encroachment, wide life depletion, pollution, flooding, land and water and air pollution among others. The exploitation of oil in the Niger Delta region has brought to bear oil spillage and its numerous effects. Hence, this study tries to find out the causes and effects of oil spillages and environmental remediation measures of the oil companies in the area.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Effects of Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta using Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To know the extent to which the oil spillage affect the farmland in the study area;
- To examine the causes of oil spillage in the area under review;
- To find out the effects of oil spillage in the area under review;
- To examine the implication of oil spillage on fishing in the area under study; and
- To determine whether the environmental remediation measures by the oil companies are adequate.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are the environmental remediation measures the oil companies adequate?
- Is fishing affected by oil spillage in the area?
- What are the causes of oil spillage in the area?
- What are the effects of oil spillage on the farming in the area?
- What is the implication of oil spillage on fishing festival?
- What is the management systems adopted for control of oil spill in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant causes and impacts of oil spill occurrence in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
- H1: There are significant causes and impacts of oil spill occurrence in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There are no significant factors affecting the effectiveness of management systems to reduce oil spills in the Niger Delta Region
- H1: There are significant factors affecting the effectiveness of management systems to reduce oil spills in the Niger Delta Region
1.7 Significance of Study
The findings of this study will help to create public awareness and understanding of oil spills problems and appreciation of their responsibilities to the environment. Industrial wastes from the oil industries could be used to address the impact of infrastructural deficiency in the local communities.
This research will also be significant to students, general public especially to Niger Delta region. Oil spillage is very hazardous to living organism which demands for urgent solutions for the well living of the habitats. This study will find out the causes of oil spillage, the effect in the environment and the prevention measures.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Effects of Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta using Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State as a case study. The study is restricted to the causes and effects of oil spillage and environmental remediation measures that has been put in place by the oil companies.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Oil Spillage:
It is the release of petroleum substance or product into the streams, lakes, rivers, beaches, seas, oceans and land, which becomes poisonous and thus make the water and land fouled and threatened the rich coastal habitat.
Environment:
Environment is everything that is around us. It can be living or non-living things. It includes physical, chemical and other natural forces. Living things live in their environment. They constantly interact with it and adapt themselves to conditions in their environment.
Environmental Hazard:
An environmental hazard is a substance, a state or an event which has the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environment / or adversely affect people's health, including pollution and natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes.
Environmental Degradation:
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution.
1.11 Organization of the Study
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows:
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the, historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study and definition of terms.
Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
Chapter five gives summary, conclusion and recommendations made of the study.
