ABSTRACT
Pipeline ruptures/spill and vandalism are the most common incidents that cause oil spillages, water pollution, soil contamination, fires and explosions in Nigeria. This is an important issue to be handled with great concern in order to protect and secure the environment and human health from all possible consequences of oil spillage as a result of pipeline rupture. The aim of this study is to assess the consequences of oil pipeline rupture within Hayin Mahauta community. The objectives of this study are to identify the root causes of oil pipeline rupture, to determine the effects of the oil pipeline hazard, to evaluate coping capacities of the people and introduce possible strategic measures to improve their capacities. Research Design for this study is Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach. Two main sources of data were used for this research work, these are primary and secondary sources. The primary sources include six (6) Focus Group Discussions sessions held within the community, In-depth interviews with thirty (30) key informants in the area and field observation. The secondary sources include report from Oil spill monitor of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, records of oil pipeline spills (2016-2021) from Hayin Mahauta community head, National Bureau of Statistic. Other sources are journals, textbooks, published and unpublished thesis. The technique of data analysis employed was the use of descriptive statistics such as tables and graphs. The findings of analysis revealed that pipeline ageing is the main root cause of oil pipeline rupture within the community with (36.7%). It also revealed that water pollution is the main effect the community faced as a result of pipeline rupture with (40%). Soil contamination and impacted vegetation are the main problems affecting the environment with (33.4%) each. Ground-water well is the main source of water within the community with (73.3%), patent chemist is the main source of health care facility within the community with (73.3%). It was also discovered that diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and skin ulcer and stomach irritation were observed within the study population. The study revealed that the community has no access to standard schools and good source of power. It was found out the community was never involved in any sort of sensitization or awareness that concerns oil spill hazard management measures. It was also found out that the community currently is vulnerable to oil pollution as a result of persistence pipeline rupture which usually occurs due to pipeline ageing and third-party interference. There is need for appropriate authority to put adequate measures in place to reduce the level of vulnerability and increase the resilience in the community in order to mitigate the consequences. There is also need for stakeholders to collaborate with the host community to ensure a safe environment
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In an oil pipelines host communities of Nigeria, Oil spillage has caused severe environmental damages, loss of plants, animals and human lives and also loss of revenue to the government as a result of persistence pipeline ruptures. Petroleum exploration, exploitation, production, storage, distribution and transportation activities affect the environment in a conspicuously negative manner. Oil Spillage causes a range of environmental problems which include: contamination of both surface and ground water by benzene, xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene. Contamination of soil by oil spill and leaks increased deforestation as well as the economic loss and environmental degradation (NDDC, 2001). Oil spill is harmful to both the environment and human health and thus, requires quick intervention. In order to address the problems of pipeline rupture and oil spillage, it is necessary to understand the root causes of the oil pipeline rupture, the effects of oil pipeline hazard and oil spillage on the environment and also to know the appropriate strategies measures to put in place to stop the oil pipelines and oil spills hazard turning to disaster. In view of the above-mentioned problem, assessment of the consequences of oil pipeline rupture remains a high priority due to continued crude and refined oil spillage in to the environment.
Oil pipelines play a significant role in crude oil transportation and bring danger close to communities along their paths. Pipeline accidents happen every now and then due to factors ranging from operational cause to third-party damage. In the Niger Delta pipeline system, interdiction is common; therefore, every length and breadth of land covered by a pipeline is vulnerable to oil pollution, which can pose a threat to land use (NOSDRA, 2015). Weak enforcement of Rights of Way (ROW) led to encroachment by farmers and human dwellings, thereby bringing people in close proximity to pipelines. (Shittu, Whaanda and JA‟afaru, 2014). Pipelines are part of the core infrastructure of oil and gas production. They are necessary for the transportation, storage and marketing of natural gas, crude oil, and refined petroleum products. Available data put the nation‟s pipeline network at over 3,000 km (Olomola, 2005 and Agbaeze, 2002). Pipelines are used to transport petroleum products from oil refineries and import- receiving jetties to storage depots in Nigeria. In Nigeria, petroleum pipeline traverses the entire country‟s geo-political zones ranging from the subsea swamp, rain forest to the savannah grass lands and are exposed to diverse climates and soil conditions with varying consequences which include the leaking and seeping of petroleum products with damaging implications for the communities and the environment (Agbaeze, 2002).
Most pipelines in Nigeria are more than 20 years old making them vulnerable to corrosion and leakage (Amnesty international, 2013). Some of these pipelines‟ networks date back to the 1970s, and the majority of the pipeline‟s designs have a limited lifespan of 20 years or less, though many of the pipelines still remain operational to date. Some of the pipelines were not properly laid down below the surface and can easily be exposed with little or no erosion. Some of the coastal pipelines are now exposed to the elements due to erosion. Other pipelines were originally laid above ground level further necessitating replacement. Most of these pipelines have been subjected to deterioration due to ageing, aggressive environmental factors, inadequate design and improper protection and maintenance (Ogwu, 2011 and Anifowose, 2012).
According to Nnah and Owei (2005), a petroleum pipeline is an essential mode of transport and is therefore an infrastructure of a highly specialized nature. Unlike other modes of transport such as road, pipelines do not improve access for people in communities through which they pass. Rather, they impose constraints on interactions and when located close to houses, are potentially hazardous to life there. Even when a pipeline is no longer in use, it is left to rust in the open field as the oil companies are not willing to spend money dismantling it. After the construction phase, there is usually no periodic monitoring. Monitoring is an important activity to ensure the integrity of pipelines and safety of people in the vicinity. Whereas oil companies attribute most spills to sabotage, the communities argued it is due to failed pipelines and subsequent leakages (NDDC, 2001).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The recurrence of fatal pipeline incidence in Nigeria has gained global attention as a result of loss of lives, water pollution, soil contamination, air pollution, destruction of the ecosystem (flora and fauna), destruction of proper infrastructures, and loss of crude oil and refined products. The lack of robust safety management systems is one of the major reasons behind the high rate of recurring pipeline accidents which constitute a serious threat to the petroleum industry and the Nigeria economy (Amnesty international, 2013). Pipeline ruptures and vandalism are the most common incidents that cause oil spillages, fires and explosions in Nigeria. Corrosion, lack of regular inspection, lack of proper maintenance, operational failures and natural disasters are among the contributory factors to pipeline ruptures (NOSDRA, 2015).
According to World Bank Report (2004), studies have shown that the poor people are the most vulnerable to disaster situation, and those groups of people are mostly found in rural settlements and informal settlements. Hayin Mahauta community is a rural community where the major occupation of the settlers is farming, fishing and rearing of animals and the community lives in poor environmental condition as a result of oil pipeline belonging to Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) which passes through the community. The houses within the community are devoid of decent shelter and basic infrastructure which resulted in terrible living condition. Also, one of the major features of Hayin Mahauta community is that houses and business premises were built too close to the pipeline Right of Way (ROW) which exposed people to pipeline hazard, whenever pipeline rupture occurs in the community. Oil spilled into the environment contaminates the soil and also seeps into underground water and pollute their well (well pollution), which is the main source of water used for consumption and other domestic activities.
Various studies on oil pipelines Incidents using geospatial techniques have been conducted across Nigeria by researchers in order to find lasting solution to the problem. Shehu, (2016), analyzed the occurrences of oil spill along pipeline in the FCT, Abuja using geospatial techniques, to determine the location of oil spill, temporal distribution of oil spill and areas around the pipeline susceptible to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination and exposure. The results showed that proximity analysis was done based on local and international standards for oil pipeline right of way. Field survey revealed that built up and agricultural activities have encroached into the oil pipeline right of way.
Shittu, Adekola, Adamu, Yahaya and Pandey (2016) assessed the geographical distribution of oil-spills cluster and pattern in Niger Delta of Nigeria. Using three geospatial techniques with ground data at 443 oil-spill incident sites from 1985-2008. The places with high (high-volume/ large impact/close proximity to communities) and low incident (low-volume/less impact/far distance) are related to the quantity of oil-spills identified within those communities considered susceptible to spill impact. While the average nearest neighborhood analysis showed a probability that oil-spill distribution in the area is clustered (ratio less than 1 with index value 0.19), the Getis-Ord General G test indicated that the oil-spill with high quantities (volume) discharge are significantly clustered within every 400 m. The Moran‟s I index indicated that there is less than 1% likelihood that the clusters are as a result of random chance.
Shittu, Whanda and Ja‟afaru (2014) Mapped oil spill on human health risk in Rivers State Nigeria. A method was developed for identifying vulnerable communities within a designated potential pipeline impact radius and generic assessment criteria developed for assessing land use exposure. The GIS based model combines four weighted criteria layers, i.e. land cover, population, river and pipeline buffers in a multi-criteria decision making with analytical hierarchy process to develop an automated mapping tool designed to perform three distinct operations: firstly, to delineate pipeline hazard areas; Secondly, establish potential pipeline impact radius, and thirdly, identify vulnerable communities in high consequence areas. The model was tested for sensitivity and found to be sensitive to river criterion; transferability on the other hand is limited to similar criteria variables.
Oyinloye & Olamiju (2013) assessed the physical impact of oil spillage in Jessy Town, Delta state, using GIS and remote sensing technologies. The study relied majorly on secondary data sources from supervised image classification method. ILWIS 3.2 GIS software was employed to classify ground cover into oil spill area, bare land/ cultivation, built up areas and vegetation. The findings reveal that oil spillage is increasing unabated in the study area. This study recommends qualitative employee training and preventive maintenance culture as remedy to continuous oil spillage since the principal cause of spills was attributed to human errors and equipment failure.
Considering the above studies, all of the researchers used conventional approach to address the consequences of oil pipeline rupture/spills in their study areas and none of the researchers use Participatory Action Research approach (PAR) to address the consequences. These are the gaps the study bridged, using Participatory Action Research approach of data collection and data analysis, such as focus group discussion (FGD), in-depth interviews and field survey and observation approach to assess the consequences of oil pipeline rupture/spills within Hayin Mahauta community and to find out the lasting proper solution to mitigate the menace. This was also the first research work carried out within the community on oil pipeline rupture incidence.
1.3 Research Questions
It is against this background that this study intends to provide answers to these research questions:
1 What are the root causes of oil pipeline rupture within Hayin Mahauta community?
2 What are the effects of oil pipeline hazard within the community?
3 What are the coping capacities of the people when the oil spill strikes the community?
4 What are the possible strategic measures to improve their capacities?
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to assess the Crisis of industrialization and national development in Nigeria. This aim will be achieved through the following specific objectives, which are to:
i. Identify the root causes of oil pipeline rupture in the study area.
ii. Determine the effects of oil pipeline hazard within the study area.
iii. Evaluate coping capacities of the people when the oil spill strikes the area.
iv. Introduce possible strategic measures to improve their capacities.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The spatial scope of this study covers Hayin Mahauta community that is susceptible to oil pipeline rupture in Giwa LGA, Kaduna State of Nigeria. This research is limited to assessment of the consequences of oil pipeline rupture within Hayin Mahauta community, in order to detect the main hazards/problem faced by the community as a result of oil pipeline rupture in the study area. The temporal scope for the study is restricted to a year (2016-2021)
1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Pipeline ruptures and vandalism are the most common incidents that cause oil spillages, water pollution and contamination of soil, fires and explosions in Nigeria. As a result, of corrosion, lack of regular inspection, lack of proper maintenance, operational failures, third-party interference and natural disasters are among the contributory factors to pipeline ruptures. But unfortunately, the communities around that are susceptible to oil pipeline rupture are neglected either by the government or oil companies for the impact on their homes, culture, environment, and health. These people generally see little in the form of compensation from the government or oil companies but pay more attention only to coastal and marine pollution in relation to oil pipeline rupture consequences and less attention to land pollution (Amnesty International, 2013). This is an important issue to be handled with great concern in order to protect and secure the environment and human health from all possible consequences of oil spillage as a result of pipeline rupture. Therefore, this study will equip the community with necessary information on how to improve the management strategies of oil spills incidence within the community; the study uses the Participatory Action Research (PAR). The whole essence was to involve the community in research processes so that both the researcher and the researched build trust on research outcome. The method will also enable the community to acquire the knowledge and use the available resources in their hand to combat the effects of oil pipeline hazard whenever it strikes their community before seeking outside assistance.
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