The Oil Industry, The Environment and Health in Nigeria s

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The Oil Industry, The Environment and Health in
Nigerias Niger Delta

• Chime Nnadi MD, PhD.

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Overview

• Introduction
• Brief history of oil and gas exploration in
  Nigeria
• Assessment of the impact of oil and gas
  exploration on the environment and health
• Moving towards sustainable health in an oil and
  gas development environment
• Summary

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Deep Water Horizon Explosion
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The oil and gas industry in Nigeria

• Oil was first discovered in Nigeria in 1965
• Petroleum resources are at the heart of Nigerian
  economy, accounting for 95 of exports revenues
  and 85 of total revenues
• Oil and gas are therefore at the heart of the
  Nigerian economy, in fact at the heart of the
  Nigeria
• Resources derived from petroleum has funded urban
  and social development over the past 40 years

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Effects of oil and gas exploration on the
environment

• Oil and gas exploration, drilling and piping have
  had immense consequences on the environment
• Until recently, no detailed studies were
  available to document the glaring evidence of
  environmental abuse and its consequences on human
  health as well as social cohesion in many host
  communities
• A 2010 study by the UNEP has addressed these
  issues

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UNEP findings in Ogoniland, Nigeria

• Vast contamination of soil and ground water
• Spilled hydrocarbon deposits gt5metres
• Seepage of oil leaks into bore-holes
• Constant hydrocarbon sheens on surface water
• Mercury and other heavy metals in water
• Deleterious effect of oil spills on the
  vegetation and aquatic life
• Several public health problems from gas flaring
  including acid rain
• Undetermined long-term health consequences

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Determinants of health

• Deprivation of means of livelihood
• Consumption of contaminated water and food
• Loss of social cohesion

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Path to Sustainability

• Emergency clean up
• Economic palliative measures
• Long term commitment to standard business
  practices
• Longitudinal studies of evolving health effects