Oilwatch in Nigeria

Promoting public participation and tackling environmental concerns in the oil sector in the South.

Partner:

Environmental Rights Action and Oilwatch.
+234 52 880619

The Environmental Rights Action was established to deal with environmental human rights issues in Nigeria. It is concerned with the protection of the environment and democratisation of development and is committed to the defence of the human ecosystems within the framework of human rights and the promotion of environmentally responsible practices by governments, corporations and the people. ERA is the Nigerian branch of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI). ERA was the first winner of the Norwegian environmental award, the Sophie Prize. ERA is hosting the international secretariat of Oilwatch.

Oilwatch is an international network focusing on countries in the South. It was established in order to counteract and highlight the negative impact of oil and gas industry on the environment. The network has members in more than fifty countries, and these are mainly from the South. In addition, the network has a few members in Europe and North America.

Background:
Oil and gas extraction, production and activities associated with it in Nigeria, have created lots of problems for the people and their environment which in turn affects the development of such communities. Among the numerous problems, the most striking arises from environmental pollution and comes by ways of oil spills, gas flaring, industrial discharges and the use and dumping of chemical substances. Nigeria is the African country with most severe environmental challenges from the oil sector. Nigeria ranks as the world’s 11th largest exporter of petroleum and is strategically placed to have a significant role in global oil politics. Oil accounts for 85% of government revenues, 90% of foreign exchange earnings, 96% of export revenues and almost half of Gross Domestic Product.

The Niger Delta has an estimated population of 20 - 30 million people and accounts for almost a quarter of Nigeria's total population. With a land area of 70,000 km2, the Delta is one of the most densely populated sections of Nigeria. And the population is growing at the rate of 3% per year. The Niger Delta is a treasure trove of biodiversity; it is mostly forested, with mangrove forests in the immediate coastal regions and tropical rainforests and freshwater swamps dominating further inland. Much of these forests have been degraded except in protected areas. This life-supporting ecosystem has been generally degraded due to frequent oil spills and continuous gas flaring.