Ecologists are raising alarms about a potential fish shortage in the Niger Delta, attributed mainly to the area’s persistent ecological damage from oil spills, gas flaring, and increasing violence. These environmental threats, including sea piracy and conflict, have undermined the livelihoods of the local fishing community, pushing the region towards a significant food crisis. Renowned for its abundant water resources, the Niger Delta has long been a centre for fishing. Yet, over the past few years, industrial practices have changed the state of the region’s waters. Many fishermen have turned away from their traditional way of life as oil leaks and gas Emissions pollute rivers and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
The extent of this damage raises concern as Pollution continues unchecked while the government remains unresponsive to the growing crisis. According to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study, the country was positioned among the 10 leading gas-flaring nations globally in 2018, flaring 7.4 billion cubic feet of gas during that period. This amount represented 6.9% of the total gas flared by the top 10 countries. Flaring releases gases, and extensive oil leaks contaminate air and water, harm aquatic species, and severely disrupt nearby residents’ fishing-dependent livelihoods.
Oil spills force fishermen to quit, worsening fish scarcity and poverty.
Between 2020 and 2021, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) documented 822 oil spills, which discharged 28,003 barrels of oil into natural habitats. These ongoing incidents have severely disturbed the ecosystems in the Delta, rendering the water unsafe for fishing and contributing to food scarcity in the area. Experts warn that the fish shortage could cause a larger crisis without immediate action, worsening Poverty and possibly pushing some vulnerable people towards crime to survive. Phenson Ufot, the president and founder of the Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON), has expressed concern about how these environmental challenges will affect local fishing communities.
Ufot states that many fishermen in Akwa Ibom and various regions of the Niger Delta find themselves compelled to leave their profession, as ongoing Oil Spills and Gas Flaring pollute the water and severely harm aquatic ecosystems. Ufot cautions that the area’s food supply faces significant threats, especially with the recent Ibeno Local Government Area spill threat, an already challenging scenario. Residents, who rely heavily on fishing as a source of food and income, struggle to adapt. The threat of widespread fish shortages might drive the Niger Delta further into poverty, leading more individuals to resort to desperate actions, which may include engaging in criminal activities.
A large portion of the Niger Delta remains underdeveloped.
Niger Delta remains underdeveloped despite the wealth from oil extraction. Also, the deficiency in Infrastructure within communities that produce oil raises further issues. Despite the wealth generated from oil extraction, much of the Niger Delta remains underdeveloped, with residents struggling with high poverty levels and little to no government support. The relentless environmental decline has intensified discontent as locals witness little advantages from the resources taken from their territory. Chima Williams, the Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), emphasised the link between pollution and the growing Insecurity in the region. She noted that local communities are becoming more frustrated as they feel abandoned despite being the source of the country’s vital resources.
This rising frustration and Environmental Degradation create a dangerous climate that could increase local unrest driven by residents’ desperation. Williams argues that tackling the environmental emergency in Akwa Ibom and the wider Niger Delta demands an urgent, thorough environmental assessment. This assessment would clearly understand the damage inflicted on the area’s ecosystems, creating a foundation for formulating integrated solutions. Without this essential procedure, initiatives aimed at counteracting the harm inflicted by years of pollution will likely fall short and lack cohesion.
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As these growing issues become more prominent, initiatives are being implemented to increase understanding and demand responsibility. The recent introduction of a publication titled State Security Management, Hydrocarbon Pollution, Environment, and Implications on Human Rights in Nigeria underscores the complex connection between ecological harm and human rights abuses. In partnership with AKIPCON, EDEN has committed to persistently recording the ecological consequences of oil extraction while calling on governmental bodies to implement measures to address the harm and ensure accountability for those responsible.