Nature Under Siege: Portrait of Environmental Crisis in the Niger Delta

© 2012 by INIODU GEORGE-UKPONG. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/17/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5989-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5991-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012913386

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

1.0. Introduction

2.0. The Niger Delta

2.1 Definition, Nomenclature, Geography

2.2 People And Demography

2.3 Ecological Zones

2.3.1 Fresh Water Swamp Forest

2.3.2 Tropical Rain Forest

2.3.3 Mangrove Swamp Forest

2.3.4 Derived Savannah

2.3.5 Sand Barrier Islands

2.3.6 Estuaries

2.4 Resources Of The Niger Delta

2.4.1 Mineral Resources

2.4.2 Agricultural Resources

2.4.3 Forest Resources

2.4.4 Marine Resources

3.0.Historical Perspectives

3.1 Scramble For The Resources Of The Niger Delta And The Struggle For Resource Control

3.1.1 Genesis Of The Struggle

3.1.2 The Struggle For Control Of Human Resources

3.1.3 The Struggle For Control Of Agricultural Resources

3.1.4 The Struggle For Autonomy

3.1.5 The Struggle For Control Of Mineral Resources

3.1.6 The Struggle For Safe Environment And Sustainable Development

3.2 The Renewed Consciousness Of Resource Control

3.3 Impact Of The Struggle On The Niger Delta Environment

4.0.Environmental Crises In The Niger Delta

4.1 .Ecological Problems In The Niger Delta Region

4.1.1 Accelerated Sea Level Rise, Coastal Erosion And Perennial Flooding

4.1.2 Impact Of Aquatic Plants

4.1.3 Pollution And Environmental Diseases

4.2. Environmental Degradation

4.2.1 Negative Impact Of The Oil Industry In The Niger Delta

4.3. Socio-Economic Environment And Significant Social Issues

4.3.1. Militancy

4.3.2. Kidnapping / Hostage-Taking

4.3.3. Poverty

4.3.4. Communal Crises

4.3.5. Militarization / Invasion Of Local Communities

5.0.Combating Environmental Problems In The Niger Delta

5.1. Comprehensive Region-Wide Post-Impact Assessment

5.2. Niger Delta (Region-Wide) Environmental Database

5.3. Ecological And Socio-Economic Rehabilitation

5.4. Enforcement Of Existing Regulations On Environmental Protection

5.5. Application Of Best Available Technology (Bat)

5.6. Conservation

5.7. Institutionalization Of Environmental Emergency Response Systems (Eers)

5.8. The Collective Responsibility

5.8.1. Role Of Host Community

5.8.2. Role Of Non-Governmental Organisations

5.8.3. Role Of The Academia

Epilogue

References

To Grace; . . . a mother indeed.

And to the living memories of a hero

who lived for justice for his people; . . . my father.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I acknowledge the efforts of Ofonime Inyang, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa and Moffat Ekoriko, NewsAfrica, London, U.K., for their editorial assistance; Professor Kingsley Akpabio, University of Uyo, Nigeria, for reviewing this book; and Iboro Umanah, NY, USA, for publishing logistics assistance.

Iniodu George-Ukpong, PhD

July, 2012

FOREWORD

Issues of the environment have occupied the front seat of world concerns in the past six decades, but no signs of solution are seen in the face of global destruction. The rapid destruction of the natural vegetation globally and the consequent lethal effects on the Natural environment has gone on progressively unabated to the present day. The problem has been the worry of many individuals and groups, who have acted and shouted from several points, from many directions and in several ways to draw global attention to the deadly daily activities of Man. The World is at the precipice and there are indications that this is leading to a possible final death of the world. The efforts and plans to counter this calamity and the action plan against this evil on Nature and the environment seem to be yielding little results or no results at all, perhaps because we are not doing enough. This book Nature under siege is one very special contribution to the loud cry and the bells of alarm to save the WORLD.

The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria has been particularly harassed and recklessly exploited and its environments raped and denatured irreversibly because of its rich oil and gas profile. The Niger Delta of Nigeria has the fortune or is it really a fortune? of harbouring the Black Liquid Gold; for this, it is drastically being destroyed. The region which was once covered with Natural and pristine forest, fully endowed with biodiversity is now a faded shadow of itself. The exploitation and exploration of the region in the last 50 years has now left it naked, bare and weak and with ugly environments. The story of the Niger Delta will be likened to that of once beautiful maiden who has given birth to kings and queens and princes and princesses of many kingdoms and generations, but now surviving in abject poverty and penury, abandoned and shackled. What a pity.

The Niger Delta, once green and thick, with clean, clear and flowing streams, is now heavily polluted (soil, water and air). The devastation is palpable and visible. The effect is felt everywhere. Biodiversity is lost daily and irrecoverably and the concomitant adverse effect on man, plants and animals is increasing. This book, showing some of the best scenarios in the Niger Delta is a solid exposition of the challenges in the region. The ecological and economic degeneration and degradation of the Niger Delta arising from the desecration of the environment is a sordid factor in the Niger Delta environment and Nation’s revenue equation. Some semblances of impact assessments, often tele-guided and or trans-located, have not proffered any meaningful solution to this problem. In some cases such documents have added to the chaos in the Niger Delta.

The author has also made very concrete suggestions on how the tide could be reversed. Some of the key negative issues are boldly exposed and discussed and the introductory verse to every chapter is an innovative cast that puts this book in a unique group of documents.

The Niger Delta is the hall of fame for Nigeria, with the good, the ordinary and the dirty. Let us take a deep breath and drive back to our heritage and recover our environmental glory.

Professor Kingsley Akpabio

Environmentalist and Professor of Genetics and Biosystematics

University of Uyo, Nigeria.

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

Amidst the hovering green freshness

Graceful birds convoked, and chirped

Prancing to their shrilling melodies;

Under here I rested

On the wings of Nature’s greenness;

The cold dews plummeted by their briskness

Sprinkled on my head and shoulders

With invigorating instincts;

The Eastern sun bathed the scenery

As gentle fragrant breeze swept across

Over the calmness of undefiled rivers.

Here was the wholesomeness of celestial creation

But, alas!

Groaning machines and roaring guns

Now pierce the intact tranquility of Nature;

Fresh air is loaded with acidic soot,

Fresh water stuffed with heat and crude,

Farmlands awash with harmful nothings;

And I behold the serene essence of Nature

Tainted without compunction

In the coastal plains of my neighbourhoods.

Polluted. © Ukpong 2005.

1.0. Introduction

The natural environment is a holistic, self-sustaining and dynamic system, deriving its integrity from the inherent equilibrium in the composite systems. In general terms these composite systems are the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. Simply put, environment is the sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development and survival of an organism (FEPA 1991). In human terms it includes the natural conditions, land, water, atmosphere, living systems—flora and fauna, as well as socio-economic, political, cultural and religious circumstances which interact and influence the activities and existence of man in his natural habitat. It is the substance of man’s existence.

The ecological balance in nature may have been a rigid one at inception; however human influence has proved the fragility of this equilibrium in a dynamic system. The first thing to consider is the view that any ecological adjustments or ‘disturbance’ in the system would be of no importance if man were not in the picture. For example, it is man that raises alarm over excess storm water (as flood), land subsidence (as gully erosion), high-speed wind (as hurricane), etc. because these natural phenomena affect his wellbeing and indeed threaten his real existence. Secondly, man, in his capacity as manager over the environment, has exerted intense impact on the system so much so that the natural integrity within the composite systems give way resulting in ecological imbalances that also impair his survival and constitute serious threats to his existence. The modern man is therefore faced with the twin enterprise of attempting to control the dynamics of the natural factors and the dilemma surrounding his life-sustaining activities and their negative impacts on the environment. In other words the holistic management of the environment has come up as man’s most pressing concern in this age.

In reality, man is not prudent neither is he judicious in the management of environmental resources. The depleting resources and decaying structures are indicative of his looting rather than tending attitude on the environment. However, because the human community must exist, survive and develop the physical and biological components of the environment to suit, support and sustain their existence and taste, the only option at man’s disposal is that of sustainable development. This option is even most desirable when fragile ecosystems like those of the Niger Delta are involved.

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED, 1987). It is a relatively new development paradigm brought into limelight only in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), now known simply as The Brundtland Commission after its head, Gro Harlem Brundtland. It was adopted by the World leaders at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, UNCED, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. The Rio Conference was the first Earth Summit; for the first time as many as 179 nations gathered on the environment. The objects of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development were substantiated in a set of principles that constituted a global Plan of Action tagged Agenda 21, that is the blueprint for sustainable development for the 21st Century. Agenda 21 emerged as an absolute necessity, not only to draw the attention of humankind to the collapsing posture of the earth due to their exploitative partnership with the environment, but also to address the problems as it were and focus on ways of rescuing our habitat. It remains as a reference commission module for environmental sustainability. The 3rd Principle of the Rio Declaration states that The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. Principle 4 states: "In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute