The Environment in Nigeria
Nigeria is blessed with many mineral resources and great diversity of fauna and flora. Whilst of critical importance to the economy, the dominant resource of oil has turned into a curse for Nigeria in general and for its environment in particular.
Oil spillage is the major environmental problem in Nigeria, creating water, land and air pollution, as well as causing much ethnic violence. The massacre of environmental activist Ken Saro Wiwa and 20 other Ogonis by the military regime of General Sani Abacha exposed Nigeria's environmental issues and the behaviour of multinational corporations such as Shell to international scrutiny and outrage. Although the civilian government is making efforts to address past negligence and injustice through dialogue with the parties concerned, oil spillages and treatment of local people remain big problems for the oil producing states of Nigeria.
Oil spillage is the major environmental problem in Nigeria, creating water, land and air pollution, as well as causing much ethnic violence. The massacre of environmental activist Ken Saro Wiwa and 20 other Ogonis by the military regime of General Sani Abacha exposed Nigeria's environmental issues and the behaviour of multinational corporations such as Shell to international scrutiny and outrage. Although the civilian government is making efforts to address past negligence and injustice through dialogue with the parties concerned, oil spillages and treatment of local people remain big problems for the oil producing states of Nigeria.
Ever since the discovery of oil in Nigeria in the 1950s, the country has been suffering the negative environmental consequences of oil development, a new US government report concludes. In the Niger Delta region, the centre of the country's oil industry, environmental damage has been especially large and not taken seriously until now.
more...From Afrol News Related topics/regions: [Nigeria] [West Africa] [Africa] [Environment] Image: Gas flared from oil drilling, Nigeria © Project Underground
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