Niger Delta Oil Exploitation

Created by: AmyPhipps2000
Created on: 18-04-18 11:17


	Niger Delta Oil Exploitation
	Advantages Oil accounts for 75% of the Nigerian Government's income. Nigeria earns US$10 billion each year from oil. Produces 131 million tonnes of oil, and exports 126 million tonnes (80% of its revenue). Produces 18.5 million tonnes of natural gas, and exports 60% of it. Moved Nigeria from a LDC to a MIC. It has created many jobs, which is particularly important as many Nigerians are self-sufficient on food.	Disadvantages 70% of population live below the poverty line. Poorer care of the environment and safety in the Delta (due to lack of democracy and environmental pressure groups forcing action). Less than 20% of the region is accessible by good roads. Local hospitals and schools are under-funded. Traditional livelihoods (e.g. fishing and agriculture) are damage by pollution, and this threatens human health. This disrupts cultural traditions and makes people poorer. Oil Spills are common, which pollute groundwater, surface water and soil. Amnesty International claims there were 550 spills in 2014. Mangrove forests and rainforests are damaged and destroyed frequently. Burning off of natural gas - produces acid rain which damaged farmland and release pollutants into the air. This causes breathing problems and can create a higher cancer risk. UN estimated that spills over the past 5 decades will cost US$1 billion and take 30 years to clean up. Over 500 million tonnes of oil lost to spillage, which costs US$10 million a day. Militant groups have formed to pressure the government and oil companies to compensate them for loss of farmland and health risks, as well as to share the delta's wealth with the people. Violent protests are increasing as tensions rise, as the kidnapping's of foreign oil company workers and incidents of 'oil bunkering' - illegally taking oil from pipelines to sell it abroad.
	Evaluation The combination a weak government, a reliance of on oil revenue, epidemic disease amd the risk of armed conflict, means that TNC oil companies can do whatever they want, regardless of the effect on the minority populations and the environment, therefore there are greater costs than benefits to the Niger Delta region.But the people are becoming more aware to the exploitation taking place and since 2000, the Niger Delta has been plagued by violence, with frequent attacks on oil pipelines by militant groups. Although the violence is bad, it shows that people are taking a stand so can lead to steps being taken to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the local area.

Niger Delta Oil Exploitation

Advantages

Oil accounts for 75% of the Nigerian Government's income.
Nigeria earns US$10 billion each year from oil.
Produces 131 million tonnes of oil, and exports 126 million tonnes (80% of its revenue).
Produces 18.5 million tonnes of natural gas, and exports 60% of it.
Moved Nigeria from a LDC to a MIC.
It has created many jobs, which is particularly important as many Nigerians are self-sufficient on food.

Disadvantages

70% of population live below the poverty line.
Poorer care of the environment and safety in the Delta (due to lack of democracy and environmental pressure groups forcing action).
Less than 20% of the region is accessible by good roads.
Local hospitals and schools are under-funded.
Traditional livelihoods (e.g. fishing and agriculture) are damage by pollution, and this threatens human health. This disrupts cultural traditions and makes people poorer.
Oil Spills are common, which pollute groundwater, surface water and soil.
Amnesty International claims there were 550 spills in 2014.
Mangrove forests and rainforests are damaged and destroyed frequently.
Burning off of natural gas - produces acid rain which damaged farmland and release pollutants into the air. This causes breathing problems and can create a higher cancer risk.
UN estimated that spills over the past 5 decades will cost US$1 billion and take 30 years to clean up.
Over 500 million tonnes of oil lost to spillage, which costs US$10 million a day.
Militant groups have formed to pressure the government and oil companies to compensate them for loss of farmland and health risks, as well as to share the delta's wealth with the people.
Violent protests are increasing as tensions rise, as the kidnapping's of foreign oil company workers and incidents of 'oil bunkering' - illegally taking oil from pipelines to sell it abroad.

Evaluation

The combination a weak government, a reliance of on oil revenue, epidemic disease amd the risk of armed conflict, means that TNC oil companies can do whatever they want, regardless of the effect on the minority populations and the environment, therefore there are greater costs than benefits to the Niger Delta region.But the people are becoming more aware to the exploitation taking place and since 2000, the Niger Delta has been plagued by violence, with frequent attacks on oil pipelines by militant groups. Although the violence is bad, it shows that people are taking a stand so can lead to steps being taken to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the local area.

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Niger Delta Oil Exploitation