A long stretch of River Ethiope, which is the main source of drinking water for rural dwellers in Ethiope West Local Government Area and Ovwore, Eko, Amukpe, Okirighwre, Sapele Okpe and Ogorode communities in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, has been polluted by crude oil, leaking from one of the oil pipelines belonging to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which runs across the river, at Eko village. The people of the affected communities have cried out to the federal and state governments, as well as NNPC, the Ministry of Environment, and security agencies to come to their aid and evaluate the crude oil from the river, which is their major source of drinking water and fish farming. |
| Name of conflict: | River Ethiope Polluted by massive oil spill, Nigeria |
| Country: | Nigeria |
| State or province: | Delta State |
| Location of conflict: | Sapele Local Government Area |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local 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 |
| Start of the conflict: | 30/07/2012 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from Nigeria Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) from Netherlands |
| Relevant government actors: | Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Nigerian Media, Trade Unions, ERA |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Indigenous groups or traditional communities Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Trade unions Women Local scientists/professionals Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Media based activism/alternative media Public campaigns |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Food insecurity (crop damage), Oil spills, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality Potential: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Genetic contamination, Soil erosion, Waste overflow, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) Potential: Malnutrition, Infectious diseases, Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Displacement, Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Under negotiation |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | The affected communities demands that that the Government should clean the spill, so that they can go about their Fishing activities again. The Government should provide alternative fish ponds, to engage Fisher folks, during clean up. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The affected communities continue to count their losses, as long as the spill remains unabated. They have called on the relevant institutions to clean up the spill and pay compensation. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Contributor: | Afoke Ohwojeheri |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 545 |