Biafra-Nigeria Oil Spills

Alana James
Inter. News Assign. #1
September 13, 2019

For context, ‘Biafra-Nigeria’ refers to the territories inside and now governed by Nigeria that
had briefly formed the Republic of Biafra, and was ruled by the predominantly Igbo ethnic
group. Although once again ruled by Nigeria, it has a very strong cultural identity, and much of
the population sees itself as a separate entity from Nigeria.
The oil spills referenced here are not minor waste accidents. Up to 1.5 million tons of oil — 50
times the pollution unleashed in the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster in Alaska — has been spilled
in the Niger delta over the past half century. That averages at roughly 41,000 barrels per year.
This situation is inflamed by oil ‘theft’; an unbelievably dangerous occupation constantly under
attack by the Nigerian police, who are incentivized by the oil companies to halt the operations.
This results in a two-fold attack on the local environment; with the confiscated oil destroyed
and spilling back into the environment, and illegal refineries releasing poisonous smoke into the
air.
In response to the unsatisfactory arrangement, militants attack the pipeline, and the resulting
destruction results in huge oil spills. Besides local dissidents, the pipelines are often targeted by
the Boko Haram, Western Africa’s Islamic state (infamous for the kidnapping of the 200+ girls
behind the #BringBackOurGirls)
Seeing as this news story was postdated three years ago, I investigated the current day
situation and as of 2015; Shell has settled with one local community -Bodo City- for close to $83
million; though no substantial cleanup has taken place.
It is shocking to me how little press this oil crisis has received in the ‘major’ international news,
especially with the extent of devastation that has taken place. I am also intrigued by the other
local stories in the Biafra-Nigeria, and plan to stay more thoroughly informed by reading similar
foreign newspapers with smaller local circulations.

Lawsuit Filed In The UK Against Shell Over Decades Of

Oil Spills In Nigeria
- Biafra Nigeria World
November 25, 2016