INTRODUCTION
Water pollution is addressed as both a national and global issue. It affects living species worldwide. A recent study in Nigeria denotes increased incidents of water pollution as a result of oil spillage. According to the report, the UN report 2010 ranked water pollution as a threat to all living things. This study aims at ascertaining the effect of oil spillage on underground water in Nigeria. The study is based on oil production industries in Niger delta.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Niger delta forms 7.5% of Nigeria’s land map. With an oil production industry that began in 1960, it ranks top as the most influential foreign income earner to the Nigerian economy (Anazie, 2012). But, the Niger delta community has experienced devastating cases of water pollution resulting from oil spillage. According to Adeogun 2007, environmental degradation in Nigeria has intensified due to oil exploitation and exploitation. The Nigerian government and the Multinationals have disposed of the incident. Also, the oil spillage effect has led to the destruction of aquatic life, wildlife, farmlands. And also, environmental wellbeing of the citizens. To end water pollution, due to oil spillage, the government took the mantel of modernizing the multinationals based in Niger delta. That said, the strategy would curb water pollution intensification.
According to the Department of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, the Niger Delta region has experienced 4,835 oil spillage incidents between 1976 and 1996. the UNDP report of 2001 points out that the area has 6,817 similar incidents between 1976 and 2001. In Nigeria, 69% of the oil spillages occur off-shore, 6% on land, and 15% on swamps. This indicates a large amount of oil is channeled to water sources. Most of these incidents are associated with pipeline leakages, tanker accidents, sabotages, 21%, and 1% resulting from the production operations and non-functional equipment, respectively. Two hundred people died after an oil explosion in 2006, whereby SPDC- Shell Petroleum and Development Company incurred the blame. As a result of weak Nigerian oil industry regulations, a Dutch Court in 2013 ruled out that SPDC be reliable for Niger Delta water pollution. Also, it had to pay $80 million to the deaths caused.
Osuagwu et al. 2014, denoted that water pollution in Nigeria and Niger delta a particular result from oil spillage. The effects lead not only to water pollution but also to environmental contamination. To Osuagwu, Niger delta oil spillage incidents have led to an impediment to the agricultural sector in Nigeria. The result of water pollution is low yields and curtailed aquatic life. Pipeline vandalization and operating equipment from companies are the major contributory factor of oil spillage (Osuagwu, 2014). The uncalled-for oil spillage incidents have resulted in socio-economic degradation. To cut the incidents of water pollution from oil spillage in Nigeria. It’s crucial to improve the infrastructure and oil-producing equipment.
In conclusion, Nigeria is faced with a trade-off between water pollution and oil spillage. And so, to curb water pollution intensification and particularly the whole environment, effective oil exploration strategies should be adopted. Effective strategies would cut oil spillage. Also, curtailment and remediation of oil spillage ought to be rapid.