Analysing Environmental Sustainability Issues and Conflict in Nigeria's Niger Delta Region

This paper analyses the environmental sustainability issues and conflict in Nigeria's Niger Delta region (NDR). Nigeria belongs to the Organisation of the Petroleum Countries (OPEC), it is the sixth-largest exporter of oil. The country which derives more than 90% foreign exchange from petroleum products also undergoes (host communities) more than 90% socio-economic and environmental degradation. The Niger Delta communities continue to suffer from high incidences of oil spills and gas flaring which have grave negative impacts on the environment. The indigenes have taken to protests, agitations, demonstrations and violence to express their dissatisfaction with the deplorable environmental condition. Despite this, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) continue to operate with greater impunity. Oil spillages regularly occur in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria; as of 2018, there had been up to 9500 incidences of oil spill in a decade. Annually, on average about 115, 000 barrels (equivalent to about 5 million worth) are spilt into the environment. Sustainability has been an overarching theme over the past decades and industries including oil and gas have the responsibility to incorporate sustainable practices in their operations. The 1987 Brundtland emphasises meeting the needs of the present generation without affecting the ability to meet the needs of future generations. It argued that economic development could be achieved whilst protecting the environment. In tackling climate change, the 2015 COP21 Paris agreement called for member countries to implement measures that would keep global temperature below 20C. In 2015, the member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which includes acting on 17 Sustainable Development Goals.