In yet another blow to Nigeria’s fragile environment, an oil spill has wreaked havoc in the nation’s southern Delta region, this time following a pipeline rupture at the Shell loading terminal. The spill, which occurred in December 2024, has prompted an urgent investigation by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who are now collaborating with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate the cleanup efforts.
This latest environmental catastrophe is just the most recent chapter in Shell’s controversial history of oil spills in Nigeria, a country that has long grappled with the deadly consequences of unchecked oil exploitation. While Shell has been a dominant player in Nigeria’s oil sector since 1958, its environmental track record has been repeatedly questioned by both local communities and international organizations.
A Legacy of Destruction
The magnitude of the environmental damage caused by Shell’s operations in Nigeria is staggering. Research estimates that over 13 million barrels of crude oil—equivalent to 1.5 million tons—have been spilled since Shell began operations in the country, with more than 7,000 oil spill incidents recorded. The legacy of these spills has devastated local communities, with environmental damage that stretches across land, waterways, and communities dependent on the ecosystem for their livelihoods.
Despite the years of destruction, Shell has made clear its intentions to scale back its operations in Nigeria. The company has hinted at selling off its onshore oil assets in the country, a move that has sparked fury among local activists, environmentalists, and affected communities. Many residents are demanding that Shell take full responsibility for its environmental wreckage before leaving the country.
Steve Bilko, a lawyer representing some of the victims of these environmental disasters, expressed the community’s frustration, saying, “It would be unconscionable for Shell to pack up its operations in Nigeria without cleaning up its mess and paying compensation.”
A Dire Situation for Local Communities
For those living in the Niger Delta, the impact of these oil spills is nothing short of devastating. Oil contamination has seeped into the land, air, and water, causing severe health risks for local populations. A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that oil spills increase exposure to carcinogens and radioactive materials, which bioaccumulate in local food supplies and contribute to childhood malnutrition rates as high as 24%. Additionally, radiation levels in the affected regions have been reported to increase by 45%, further exacerbating health concerns and cutting life expectancy to just 41 years—nearly 20 years lower than the national average.
Timipre Bridget, a farmer from one of the affected communities, shared the tragic impact on his family’s livelihood: “We bought the land in 2023, but we have not harvested anything from the farmland. The oil spill has wiped out everything—our crops, our profits, our future. There is no way to survive with our children again.”
Beyond the environmental and health issues, the economic repercussions are equally dire. Oil spills devastate local industries, particularly fishing and agriculture, which are the primary sources of income for many Nigerians in the delta region. The continued pollution, compounded by slow or inadequate cleanup efforts, has left communities in a state of despair.
Global Concern and Local Outrage
The United Nations has voiced its deep concern over the situation in Nigeria, with officials labeling the oil spill cleanup efforts as a “total failure.” Reports have indicated that corruption within the cleanup process has hampered progress, leading to growing frustration from both local communities and global environmental groups. In 2023, the UN even withdrew from collaborating on cleanup operations due to what they described as systemic issues and a lack of accountability.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has been monitoring the situation closely. As the primary regulatory body responsible for oil spill detection and response in Nigeria, NOSDRA plays a crucial role in ensuring that oil companies adhere to safety and environmental standards. However, the agency’s efforts have often been undermined by insufficient resources, corruption, and inadequate enforcement of regulations.
Local activists have been vocal in holding Shell and other multinational corporations accountable for the damage caused by their operations. They argue that the oil industry’s unchecked greed has led to widespread environmental degradation, and that the Nigerian government’s failure to hold companies accountable has compounded the crisis.
The Urgent Need for Accountability
In the face of this ongoing crisis, Nigerians are demanding immediate action from both Shell and the federal government. The call for accountability is not just a matter of environmental concern, but also of justice for the millions of people whose lives and futures have been altered by the relentless pollution of their land and water. The Nigerian government has been under increasing pressure to enforce stricter regulations on oil companies and to ensure that these companies bear the full cost of the damage they have caused.
Dr. Nnamdi Okoye, an environmental scientist based in Lagos, stressed the urgent need for systemic reform, saying, “Oil spills in the Niger Delta have become a tragic cycle. Each time there is an incident, the promises of cleanup and compensation are made, but they are never fully realized. Without a fundamental shift in policy and enforcement, this cycle will continue, and the people of the Niger Delta will bear the brunt of the damage.”
The Nigerian government’s response to this latest spill will likely set a precedent for how future oil-related environmental disasters are handled. Local communities are watching closely, hoping for a meaningful resolution that will finally address the longstanding grievances and ensure that companies like Shell are held accountable for the harm they have caused.
