The oil and gas industry plays a vast role in the socio-economic development andpolitical advancement of Nigeria. Despite the numerous benefits, a lot of environmental aspectsareassociated with petroleum and gas production facilities in the Niger Delta Region. Result of field measurement around an oil and gas facility in Rivers State indicated that highconcentrations of CH4, SO2, NO2, NH3 and H2S up to 50,000ppm, 5ppm, 5ppn, 10ppmand506ppm respectively. Field reports and statistical data indicated an estimated 350,107.43barrels of petroleum were spilled into the Niger Delta environment between 2010 and2019;the highest volume of 157,098.96 barrels (45%) spilled in Rives State, followed by DeltaStatewith 79,375.65 barrels (23%) and Bayelsa State with 63,123.19 barrels (18%); crude oil theft accounting for 47%, sabotage accounting for 35%, while operational, equipment failuresandmystery spills accounted for 18% of total oil spilled. Approximately, 1.42 billionmillionstandard cubic feet (mscf) of natural gas was flared in selected 7 states in Nigeriabetween2012 and 2019; 75.7 million tonnes of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere; an estimateof 4. 94billion US Dollars is lost in 6 states between 2012 and 2019 due to gas flaring;approximately 141.6 thousand Giga Watt-hour of electricity is also lost. Enormous volumesof hazardous drilling waste/chemicals and wastewater ef luent are discharged intotheenvironment. The air, land, water resources, both terrestrial and aquatic plants and animalsinthe Niger Delta are adversely devastated. The ecological systems, public health, agriculture, natural resources and economic livelihoods have been significantly degraded. Hence, thestudyhighlighted the need for all stakeholders, particularly the government and multinational oil andgas companies to quickly intervene and take urgent measures that save the Niger Deltaenvironment and its inhabitants from imminent destruction.
Yorkor et al. (Tue,) studied this question.