IGNATIUS AJURU UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

RUMUOLUMENI, P.M.B 5047

A SEMINAR TOPIC
ON
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN OGONI

PRESENTED BY

NAME: TUADOR BARILUGBENE PROMISE

FACULTY: SOCIAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT SOCIOLOGY

COURSE: SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES

COURSE CODE: SOC 712

LECTURER: DR. MICHAEL UZORKA

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 Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Environmental health on the lives and
development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with a particular focus on the Ogoni people.
The paper highlights the historical context of oil exploration in ogoniland and the prevailing
issues of oil exploration which is a major cause of environmental pollutions in ogoniland. The
paper also identifies the negative effects of environmental pollutions on key sectors like
Agriculture, Commerce, Tourism and the Social Life and welfare of the Ogoni people. The study
reveals that Ogoni is grossly under-developed compared to the humungous resources gotten from
her land, it also reveals that Ogoni people has been killed, daughters raped their lands polluted,
rivers ricked with hazardous petroleum products causing loss of aquatic life and good sources of
drinking water to mention but a few. In conclusion the study argues that the development of the
Ogoni people has been severely truncated by these environmental pollutions and degradation
caused by the numerous oil explorations on her lands. This paper recommends that a wholistic
cleanup exercise should be carried out in Ogoniland, not only that, but an active and working
committee should be setup to monitor and make sure these cleanup exercises are successfully
implemented unlike the case of HYPREP, it also recommends that the Nigerian Government
should allocate appropriate financial, human and capital developmental projects to the ogoni
people as this will help foster development in ogoniland.
Keywords: Ogoniland, sustainable development, oil pollutions, Shell Nigeria, Oil Spillage

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Introduction

The relationships between or among environment, resources, and society is one of the most

important challenges currently facing human on Earth. Despite enormous social and economic

gains since the mid-20th century, modern development has been characterized by excessive

consumption patterns and rapid and unplanned urbanization, causing ecosystem loss, climate

change and social inequities. The speed and intensity of environmental degradation has brought

many unforeseen consequences for life and health, now and in the future. People living and

working in polluted environments are the most affected. They face multiple risk factors,

including a lack of safe water and sanitation, exposure to hazardous chemicals, uncontrolled

waste generation and disposal, air pollution and displacement from extreme climatic conditions.

Human history is said to be largely written in terms of the struggle between man and nature over

terms of man’s survival (Barkley and Sackler, 1972). Furthermore, for most of human history, the

principal threats to man came from nature but today the principal threats to both man and nature

come from man himself (Usoro, 1994). Based on the above issue, it has become a growing

concern about the state of the environment, and human welfare has assumed a global dimension;

the need for concerted and a more focused approach to the management of the environment has

not only become imperative but urgent. Presently, there is the growing awareness borne out of

the observation that the Earth, which is the only place in the universe known to sustain life, is

progressively losing its life supporting capacity due largely to incompatible human activities

(Brundtland, 1987), the case is not different for the region of Ogoni people of Southern Nigeria

whose people are still lavishing in poverty and gross underdevelopment. The need to promote

improved human-environment interactions through environmental health is ever pressing, it

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applies to terrestrial, marine, aquatic, and aerial environments in both rural and urban

environments (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment 2005; Allsopp et al. 2009; Rockström et al.

2009; Chapin et al. 2010; Díaz et al. 2015; Davy et al. 2017). Many individuals, local

communities, environmental health groups, and governments around the world are taking and

promoting actions that’ll promote save living and healthy environment. The term environmental

health has been used to refer to a branch of public health concerned with the natural and built

environment affecting human health such diverse actions as creating protected areas, replanting

trees, limiting harvests, reducing harmful activities or pollution, creating community gardens,

restoring degraded areas etc.

Statement of Problem

The Nigerian delta has some of the best agricultural land in Africa, as well as vast oil resources. The area

is densely populated by many different tribal groups, including the Ogoni people who have lived there for

over 500 years. Several oil companies, including Shell, set up operations in the 1950s and since then, the

land, water, and air have been polluted to such a great extent that the Ogoni peoples’ livelihood is

threatened.

The effect of pollution on the Ogoniland has been great, as a result of oil spills and industrial waste

dumped into their rivers, fishing as a means of supplying food for the tribe is no longer an option because

very few fish remain in the river. The groundwater is contaminated and is not safe for drinking, and the

rainwater cannot be collected for drinking because it falls as acid rain. Children in the Niger Delta

grow up drinking, cooking and washing with polluted water. They eat contaminated fish and

vegetables. They suffer from breathing problems. A 2017 study showed that babies in Nigeria

were twice as likely to die in the first month of life if their mothers were living near an oil spill

before becoming pregnant.

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Dr. Owens Wiwa, a medical doctor and human rights activist from the area says” We cannot drink the

water from the streams, you can't drink rainwater and there is no pipe born water. Our right to drinking

water has been taken away by the SPDC, our right to farming has been taken away by the SPDC, and our

right to clean air has also been taken away by the SPDC. Ogoni air has also been severely polluted. The

natural gas that is a byproduct of drilling is flared off horizontally from five flaring stations, some of

which are near homes and villages. Flaring combined with the methane and soot produced by the two

refineries, petrochemical complex, and fertilizer complex that are in Ogoniland produce low air quality

linked to cancer, asthma, and other lung diseases. The flaring has also been associated with reduced crop

yield and plant growth on nearby farms. The most immediate threat to Ogoni people is oils spills, which

have damaged their land dramatically. At least one hundred pumping stations and pipelines crisscross

Ogoniland from Eleme to Bodo to Kpean and other communities, these pipelines run over farm land and

through villages; leaks and spills are a common occurrence. From 1970 to 1982, 1,581 oil spill incidences

were recorded in the Niger Delta of which 70% were affected by the Ogonis, over 1.5 million barrels

spilled of which were a result of Shell (Alexander B.C. 2012). While Shell runs oil operations in over one

hundred different countries, 40% of the company’s spills were in Nigeria majorly in Ogoni. The little

Shell has done to clean up these spills has been delayed and inadequate Blowouts (leaks resulting from

cracks in the pipeline have gone for days without attention.

Objectives of Study

 To access the impacts of oil environmental degradation on the development of the ogoni people

 To identify the root cause of environmental pollutions and degradation on ogoniland

 To examine the extent to which these environmental hazards has affected the lifes of the Ogoni

people

 To proffer solutions to the existing problems caused by these environmental hazards on the

development of the Ogoni people.

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Conceptual Reviews

A clear concept of sustainable development must be known before it can be implemented in any

region of the world. Sustainable development includes the philosophy that deals with vision

regarding the nature of future societies. Here attention is given to meeting basic human needs,

achieving equity and justice for present and future generations, realizing self-empowerment,

protecting the integrity of biophysical systems, integrating environmental and economic

considerations, and keeping future options (Dearden and Mitchell, 2009). It is also a process;

sustainable development emphasizes a system of governance and management characterized by

openness, transparency, decentralization, and accessibility. According to Dearden and Mitchell

(2009) sustainable development is a product. As a product it seeks to ensure that economic,

environmental, and social aspects are considered together and that trade-offs are made in a way

that is visible and transparent to those affected. The most quoted definition of sustainability is

that, of the Brundtland commission Report; The definition described sustainable development as

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development strategy may therefore be seen as

facilitator for balancing the conservation of nature ‘s resources with the need for industrial and

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technological development and advancement put differently, it connotes the capacity to improve

the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of the supporting ecosystem

(Agagu 2008). Living within our environmental limits is one of the central principles of

sustainable development. One implication of not doing so is air, water and climate change. From

the aforementioned one can ask, how well is Nigeria doing in sustainable development? And

how in particular is the Ogoni people coping in this direction? Planning is a recent phenomenon

in Nigeria, there is generally a lack of skilled practitioners in urban and regional planning and the

foreign trained ones often approached planning problems by using imported development

planning models, which in some cases does not work. In Nigeria the first National Development

Planning was introduced in 1970. Planners on many occasions have not been given freedom to

advance their expertise rather they have been overwhelmed by politician’s opinions. Often than

not, there is rift between planners and politicians because of differences in perceptions. Given

raise to frequent change in strategies in Nigeria. It is worth noting that Nigeria as a nation is

notorious for inconsistency in regional development and economic planning. A change in

government, even ministers within the same regime, is associated with unreasonable change in

policy (a kaleidoscopic, often abrupt series of changes and even reversal in policy) (Adeyemo,

2004). Discontinued policies abound in Nigeria, for instance, the shifting of gas flaring deadline

date, education curriculum, etc. The situation is disturbing because if we cannot manage our

present, it will be utterly difficult to think of the future. Therefore, it is imperative that we

concern ourselves to effective management of our environment; economy, resources and

governance to enable the future generation have a place call a country. A scholar once said “We

have a view of the environment that does not stop all forms of development but allows it to

proceed in a way that respects the environment and ensures that it is protected for future

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generation…But to respect Mother Earth as a living entity is not easy, particularly when the

preoccupation of economic development may well be to exploit natural resources rather than to

preserve or sustain it. Such attitudes endanger our common survival and the survival of future

generation, who are relying on us to preserve the planet for them” (Mercredi and Turpel, 1993).

Esan (1998) was of the view that sustainable development is concerned with technologies for

pollution reduction; monitoring of technologies to optimize energy mix; peoples ‘participation in

environmental degradation; modern technologies of biomass, wind, solar energy, thereby

reducing the ecological and environmental hazards and risk. The concept of sustainable

development which lays emphasis on the maintenance of natural resources, requiring mandatory

inclusion of natural resources values in financial report has increased the responsibility of those

involved in accounting for the natural environment.

The Ogoni people

The Ogonis  are a people in the Rivers South East senatorial district of Rivers State, in the Niger

Delta region of southern Nigeria. They number just over 2 million and live in a 1,050-square-

kilometre (404-square-mile) homeland which they also refer to as Ogoniland. The territory is

located in Rivers State near the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, east of the city of Port Harcourt. It

extends across four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Khana, Gokhana, Eleme and Tai.

Ogoniland is divided into the Six kingdoms: Babbe, Gokhana, Ken-Khana, Nyo-

Khana, Eleme and Tai. Nyo-Khana is on the East while Ken-Khana is on the west. According to

oral tradition, the Ogoni people migrated from ancient Ghana down to the Atlantic

coast eventually making their way over to the eastern Niger Delta. Linguistic calculations done

by Kay Williamson place the Ogoni in the Niger Delta since before 15 BC, making them one of

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the oldest settlers in the eastern Niger Delta region. Radiocarbon dating taken from sites around

Ogoniland and the neighboring communities’ oral traditions also support this claim.

Traditionally,

The Nigerian Delta is one of the most densely populated areas in Africa. There are many

different tribes in the region, the Ogoni being one of the largest. Approximately 500,000 Ogoni

people live in the 404 square miles of Ogoniland where they have been for at least 500 years.

Still, they are a small minority in Nigeria where the total population of 134 million is made up of

over 250 ethnic groups. The Ogoni are a diverse group made up of six kingdoms which speak

four main languages. While these languages are related, they are not understood by all kingdoms.

The Ogoni have a close connection to the land and water, both physically and spiritually. The

traditional lifestyle of the Ogoni is based on fishing in the river waters and farming yams and

cassava on the fertile land of the delta. While the land is perfect for agriculture, the value of the

crops is still small and most farming is done for subsistence, not profit. But the land and water

are more than a food source for the Ogoni; they are the center of their culture and religion. The

Ogoni practice animism and worship the river as a god. The consumption of their land by oil

drilling operations and the resulting pollution has forced many Ogoni off of their land. As a

result of the forced removal, over 100,000 Ogoni have sought refuge in the neighboring country

of Benin

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Figure 1: Map of Ogoniland of Southern Nigeria

Ogoni Resources

Forest Resources

Ogoniland is blessed with good climate and fertile soil; these give rise to robust forest and thick

vegetation. Forest resources abound in the area, and with fresh and salt water within the region

the air (Oxygen) supply is of best quality and the forest absolve carbon dioxide. Their thick

forest and swamps also serve as habitat for wildlife and protects the virgin soil. It is home of rich

bio-diversity and rich source of African traditional medicines. It provides job to thousands of

people and serves as research point for researchers. Its contribution for quality clean air cannot

be underestimated. To say that it provides food is a fact that cannot be denied.

Water Resources

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Water Resources are essential things derived from water bodies and its shores. Water is vital in

regulation and modification of weather and climate, as well as enhancement of seed germination

and formation of new soil (land) by sedimentation process. Ogoniland is also home to many

Rivers and creeks which are habitat for many aquatic lives. The rivers also serve as means of

transportation, job, recreation, food, medicine, and research. Important seaports and wharf are

located in the region, among which includes the Onne free zone port, Bodo City seaport.

(Alexander, 2012). Nigeria makes billions of Naira from import and export duties from this

region. The massive body of water produced quality oxygen which is vital for life all over the

globe. The rivers also host naval bases and research institutions. Rivers provide water for

industries and domestic uses, the importance of water in Nigeria and in Ogoni in particular can

never be over emphasize.

Mineral Resources

Mineral resources are in abundant in Ogoni region, and their exploitation is already on the high

side. Among these minerals are Crude oil, Natural gas, Bitumen, Limestone, Marble, Clay, and

Kaolin. The mining of these resources creates huge revenue for government, create jobs, and

develop the areas of production. The exploitation of the mineral resources encourages research,

education and training. Servicing companies and hospitable firm grows within the region as a

result of mineral exploration from the region.

Human Resources

Human resource is a resource that is looked down upon in Ogoni especially by other Nigerians.

It is generally believed that this aspect of resource is not well developed in the region. The region

is been accused for laziness and illiteracy. The truth be told, Ogoniland is endowed with arrays

of human resources in all endeavors of life (Azaiki, 2007). In politics, from the pre-colonial era

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the region has leaders like Mr. Kenule Saro Wiwa, Hon Kenneth Bie Kobani Mr. Timothy Paul

Birabi to mention but a few. In the field of sports personality like Mr. Joseph Yobo, formal Super

Eagles captain, Barine, an attacker with European Side Galatasary etc. In academics the list of

human resources from Ogoni is unending.

Fig 2: A kpean community woman in her maize farm

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Fig3: A Bodo man fishing on the vast sea of Bodo community

History of Oil exploration in Ogoni

Shell began drilling for oil in 1958. Ogoniland was not the only area affected by the Nigerian oil

rush. The entire coastal region of Nigeria has been drilled for oil. As a result, 90% of Nigerian

exports and 80% of government revenue comes from oil. In the proceeding thirty-five years, $40

billion in oil was drawn from Ogoniland. The central government received a portion of

the profits, however none of the money ever reached the people of Ogoni. While Ogoniland was

rich in fertile soil at the mouth of the Niger River and rested on one of the largest oil reserves in

the world, the Ogoni people lived in abject poverty for the 35 years of Shell’s drilling. They had

no electricity, no sewer system, and no water filtration. Schools and hospitals were non-existent.

Without notice, a construction crew would arrive in the morning and tear up a planted field to

run pipe across to continually develop infrastructure to support the drilling. Flaring stations shot

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soot into the air from exploding natural gas next to villages that desperately needed energy for

electricity and cooking. Oil spills caused massive fish kills, ruined the only potable water supply,

and seeped into the fields, shriveling cassava and yams. The socio-economy of the Ogoni was

destroyed while the wealth of their land was shipped away.

MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People)

After more than thirty-five years of Shell Oil threatening their way of life, the Ogoni people finally

organized and began to protest. In 1990 the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) was

formed with poet Ken Saro-Wiwa as president. MOSOP developed an Ogoni Bill of Rights, demanding

environmental justice and opposing the method of allocation of oil funds. They also organized a number

of peaceful protests. Due to Saro-Wiwa’s fame, these protests received international media attention.

MOSOP claims that, in response, Shell used the Nigerian army to silence the Ogoni people. Shell

repeatedly denied contributing financially to any armed forces, but eventually consented that in specific

cases they had paid for daily rations of patrolling troops. Whether Shell made a direct contribution to the

troops is a trivial point considering the massive amount of money that the oil company was providing the

Nigerian government who controlled the soldiers. Both Shell and the Nigerian government had much at

stake in keeping the protesters quiet. However, the frustration of the Ogoni people had brought

them to a point of no return.

Despite repression and attacks on villages, MOSOP managed to rally over 300,000 Ogoni people

to a peaceful protest in January of 1993. Saro-Wiwa was arrested and held without charges. In

April, another protest 10,000 people strong came as a response to a new pipeline run through a

freshly planted field. By the beginning of May, Shell had decided that the political unrest and

bad press was not worth the effort and pulled out of Ogoniland. Sadly, the story does not end

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there. The withdrawal of Shell may at first appear to be a victory for the Ogoni. However, all of

the pipelines and oil pumps remained and continued to leak and blow out causing severe

environmental health damages to the people. Shell was called in a number of times to make

repairs to the pipes, but the company did nothing. The movement was successful in driving out

Shell, but it still had not attained any of the goals of the Bill of Rights written by MOSOP.

Protests against the government continued and violence erupted between tribes and against the

government. Four government officials were killed one night. Though he most likely had nothing

to do with the killings, Saro-Wiwa was arrested for the murders and executed along with eight

other MOSOP officials in 1995. 

A journey through the oil spills of Ogoniland

Over two decades after Shell was first called out for it’s destruction of Ogoniland, oil still

contaminates the land, compensation is owed and Shell continues to obstruct justice.

The first thing that hits you is the stench of oil, crude oil spills on our land (John C. Ledogo

2009).

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 Oil swirls in the river water, Bodo City

Between 1976 and 1991, over two million barrels of oil polluted Ogoniland in 2,976 separate oil

spills. While oil production has ceased, pipelines operated by Shell still traverse the land, creeks

and waterways. Leakages caused by corroded pipelines as well as bandits, meaning that

Ogoniland is still plagued by oil spills. It is a painful example of corporate impunity that even

when the tireless work of communities, individuals and campaigners achieves some semblance

of justice, it is rarely seen through. As Michael Karikpo, from Environmental Rights

Action explained to us,

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“The price for docility in our communities and country is the loss of liberty and sovereignty to

rapacious and predatory multinational oil companies like Shell. Our communities must stand up

and continuously demand accountability from Shell and the international system that nurtures it.”

Below is a photograph of Kidaro Creek in Kegbara Dere. The landscape has been utterly

devastated by oil spills in 2008, 2009 and 2014. The intense brightness of the sun blinds you to

the ghastly yet beautiful patterns of the oil coiling and sweeping across the surface of the water –

until you are close up to see how polluted it has become.

Devastated landscape of Kidaro Creek

In 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a damning

environmental assessment of Ogoniland exposing extensive oil pollution and severe health risks

including polluted drinking water. The report prescribed a comprehensive cleanup of Ogoniland

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and recommended, in line with Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum

Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN), that Shell clean up every oil spill, no matter the cause. It also

recommended the establishment of an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority and

Fund, with an initial capital of US$1 billion. The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation

Project (HYPREP) has been established to undertake the clean-up, but progress has been

painfully slow. The community has tried every possible avenue in its search for justice, including

local, national and international courts and political institutions. So why has Shell not taken

action here? Local environmental scientist Eraks Kobah provides a heartbreaking answer:

“Kidaro Creek was not mentioned in the original report and has thus been ignored by the oil

company.”

“There has been no study on this place,” clarifies Eraks. “And if it is not taken care of, those who

benefit from this environment like the local fishermen will continue to suffer the effects of the

devastation.”

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 Eraks Kobah, with oil-soaked mud on his hand

Eraks grew up near the creek. “Generations of my family have fished in this creek, that was how

we were able to sustain ourselves. The generation that is coming up today can’t enjoy the

opportunities and privileges I enjoyed. I am sad to see that happening.”

“Shell has been so irresponsible. They are supposed to clean every oil spill, no matter the source.

It’s high time Shell changed its behavior and complied with existing regulations.” The Ogoni

people are doing everything they can to be heard and to instigate action. It is a David versus

Goliath struggle, of the Ogoni people versus Shell (Ukpong, I.E. 2009).

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Time is running out in K-dere

“I hope and I pray every day that I will be alive when they eventually pay.”

These words are spoken by Chief Sunday Kpai from K-Dere, whose lands have been ravaged by

Shell’s activities for decades. Chief Sunday Kpai is over 100 years old, and still waiting for the

US$37.8 million compensation granted to him by a Nigerian court in 2015. Shell has appealed

this judgement. Chief Sunday is not optimistic about the settlement, “The only reason Shell is

appealing is that they know we will all die eventually. So, they are waiting for us all to die.

“We did not do anything to Shell, yet they have destroyed our inheritance. If I die now, what is

the relevance of the court? Who will get the money? The whole of this area is contaminated. Is

this how we must live and survive in the world?”

Hunger, thirst and sicknesses in Nwekol

Nwekol is a community in Bomu where barren landscapes are punctuated by rusty shell

pipes and equipment, which are still oozing oil and hazardous substances into farmlands

and rivers. Nwekol also known as Bomu oil well 1, the site of the first oil well in Ogoniland.

The crude has an effect on the crops: when you plant cassava, it is going to die. So, we are

suffering, we are hungry. There is nothing to feed on here (Janet Piagbara, 2009). The first of the

area’s 52 oil wells was built in 1958. It started spilling oil in the 1990s, but was not repaired for

15 years. Further devastation followed with a major fire in 2009. Shell has turned a blind eye to

it all.

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 Major fire at Bomu Manifold, 2019

The spills have contaminated the local water, and Shell failed to provide an alternative drinking

supply. Biakpor Gberesu explains that the community suffer from “coughs, malaria, typhoid.”

Her efforts to draw attention to the community’s health and environment have not been

successful, “I have told Shell several times, but they don’t want to answer me.”

Bodo city now Oil Mud city

Bodo village sits on the coast of the Niger Delta, but despite access to the sea, oil residues swirl

across the surface of the water. Bodo city was originally known for her rich aquatic content and

creeks of fertile swamps, until 2008 when oil spill contaminated her sources of livelihood

leaving the people in hunger and sickness.

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 Wooden fishing boats sinking into the oily mud, Bodo City

According to the interview conducted by FOTE (Friends of the Earth); Chief Saint Emma Pii

confirms that oil spills in 2008 and 2009. According to him; “totally destroyed the environment

for agriculture and fishing. The whole ecosystem was destroyed. This place was our livelihood,

we fished and traded from here. This was a living place. He gestures to the horizon, What you

see were mangroves, living mangroves. Before the spills, animals were living here: lizards, even

lions and elephants.” “We are refugees in our community. Hungry is our name. We can’t eat

what we plant. We don’t have a future. Our children die young. Babies are premature. People die

early.”

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In 2012, the Bodo community filed a case in the United Kingdom, where Shell is incorporated.

After years of negotiating, the community settled in 2015 for US$83.4 million, a whopping 82

percent short of their original demand of US$454.9 million. Nonetheless, this is one of the

largest such compensation payments to impacted communities in Africa, and it is hoped that it

will open the door to additional claims. Under the 2015 UK settlement, Shell is responsible for

cleaning up this area. But Shell sought a court order to prevent community members from

reviving the litigation if the clean-up is not carried out satisfactorily. Shell’s attempt to silence

the community were shut down in the UK courts in 2018.

“My message for Shell is that they have destroyed our environment. We have nowhere to go. We

have no means of livelihood. Please, in the name of God, let them come and return the land to its

normal state.” These are the words of Michael B Rejoice, an 18-year-old woman living in Bodo,

in an interview with FOTE in 2018.

“The oil spillage has affected us, the children, a lot. It has affected our eyes. We can’t look at our

books and read as well as we ought to. It has also affected our health. The girl’s school in my

community is located near the river. If you go there, you can’t breathe very well. You breathe in

this oil.”

Goi community the lost Pearl

Goi community was known for its agricultural heritage in Gokhana not until 2008 when three

spillages occurred leaving the community barren and sick. In an interview with FOTE Mr. Eric

Dooh, an indigene of Goi community asserted:

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“We had a college here, we had poultry, a bakery, fish farms, canoes that we used for deep sea

fishing. Nearly everything has been grounded. There has been no compensation, nothing.”

The community has witnessed the gradual decline of their natural environment and the loss of

local people’s food sovereignty.

“This water used to be full of big, big fish. How do we survive? The little fish here are polluted.

Our people eat polluted fish, we drink polluted water, we inhale polluted air, we feed on polluted

food, and we live in a polluted environment.”

Goi community struggles to fish where once there was plenty

Driving through Port Harcourt, it is hard not to think of all of the money that is generated in the

Niger Delta transient profits, that leave nothing but stench, misery and destruction behind for the
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local people. We need to be reminded of this every day that shell must be held accountable for

all the damages done on Ogoniland.

Theoretical framework

Sociological problems can be best understood and solved through the auspices of theoretical

frameworks. It is under this guides that this work; Environmental health and Sustainable development in

Ogoni was examined using Environmental Determinism theory and Conflict theory. Environmental

determinism is a geographical and philosophical theory which claims that physical attributes of the

environment, such as landscapes and climate and weather, can significantly influence humans and

therefore, the ability to impact society and development. Essentially, this means that the environment

can control (or determine) how a population behaves. The theory states the physical makeup of an

environment can psychologically influence individuals within a population, and this can spread within a

population to ultimately define the society’s behavior and culture and development as a whole. In

relevance to this work, the Ogoni environment has been grossly degraded, its waters polluted, farms

polluted and this has in turn affected the practices and productivity of the Ogonis. The physical terrains

and environment are an eyesore, even the air is heavily polluted from gas flaring, owing to the numerous

explorations on her land.

Conflict theorists argues that social order is maintained by domination and power rather by

consensus and conformity, these problems reflect decisions by economic and political elites in

poor nations in this case Nigeria to deprive their peoples (the Ogoni people) of their rights and

resources; they also reflect operations by multinational corporations (SPDC) that deprive the

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Ogoni people of their natural resources. Conflict theory also assumes that the world’s

environmental problems are not inevitable and instead arise from two related sources. First,

multinational corporations engage in practices that pollute the air, water, and ground. Second, the

United States and other governments fail to have strong regulations to limit corporate pollution,

and they fail to adequately enforce the regulations they do have (Michaels, D. 2008)

Conclusion and Recommendations

The Ogoni have, against seemingly all odds, done an amazing job of organizing the majority of

their population to demonstrate as well as increase awareness of their plight internationally.

Forcing a giant corporation such as Shell into retreat shows the great power of a united front., it

is a good time for the Ogoni to pursue legitimate political channels and possibly seek elected

local positions. Now that they have shown their commitment and the support they can generate,

the government may be more willing to contribute the income from oil on the local people.

It would be of great benefit for the Ogoni and all other tribes in the delta region to find ways to

work together. The history of conflict and tension between tribes gives the central government an

excuse to use heavy-handed tactics and ignore the needs of the people. The Ogoni proved

capable of uniting a large group of people and it would be to their benefit to expand that unity to

other tribes.

Perhaps the most promising recommendation is that the Ogoni need to work with the oil

companies to allow oil drilling in a way that does not destroy their environment and livelihood,

and require the Nigerian government to adequately regulate the operations. The people are the

24
best architects of their own development. The people must therefore own, lead and manage their

own development.

25
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Manby, B. The Price of Oil: Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights Violations in Nigeria’s Oil

Producing Communities; Human Rights Watch: New York, NY, USA, 1999; pp. 1–193

Pegg, S. Introduction: On the 20th Anniversary of the Death of Ken Saro-Wiwa. Extr. Ind. Soc. Int. J.

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http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache:70fVxIFkSZoJ:www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/96-3/issue8/
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