Eight months after the release of the popular UNEP report, nothing has been done to effect the recommendations outlined in the report. Ogoni Communities still consume water with high level of benzene, of about 900 times above World Health Organisation (WHO) acceptable levels, hence the likelihood of cancer for consumers of such water, are yet to get adequate aids to ameliorate their situations. |
| Name of conflict: | Oil extraction forces Ogoni to consume benzene water for survival, Nigeria |
| Country: | Nigeria |
| State or province: | Rivers State |
| Location of conflict: | Eleme Local Government Area, Ogoniland. |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Oil and gas exploration and extraction Pollution related to transport (spills, dust, emissions) |
| Specific commodities: | Crude oil |
| Project details | |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Affected Population: | 832000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 04/2012 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) from Netherlands Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from Nigeria |
| Relevant government actors: | Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Environmental Rights Action, Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People |
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Local ejos Landless peasants Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Trade unions Women Local scientists/professionals Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Community-based participative research (popular epidemiology studies, etc..) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Land occupation Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Public campaigns Street protest/marches Occupation of buildings/public spaces Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Genetic contamination, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Oil spills, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion Potential: Air pollution, Desertification/Drought, Fires, Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Global warming, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Infectious diseases Potential: Occupational disease and accidents, Deaths, Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Displacement, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights |
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Migration/displacement Negotiated alternative solution New legislation Under negotiation New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | -The Ministry of Water Resources as a matter of urgency start mapping areas with high level of hydrocarbons and stop people from using such water. -The federal government mandate Shell to immediately start the cleanup of Ogoni land as recommended by the UNEP report. -The Environmental Restoration fund should start without further delay. -Maximum efforts should be channeled towards realizing the clean up within the UNEP recommended time frame of 30-35 years without extraction. -Leave ogoni oil in the soil, clean Ogoni land. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The UNEP reports recommendations on Ogoniland have not been fulfilled. Pollution is still widespread in Ogoni area. |
| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Contributor: | Afoke Ohwojeheri |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 551 |