The Egi people are part of Ogba kingdom in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The clan is made up of about 17 communities and Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited [TEPNL] otherwise known as Elf is the main oil company operating in the area. |
| Name of conflict: | Multiple gas explosion in Egiland, Nigeria |
| Country: | Nigeria |
| State or province: | River State |
| Location of conflict: | Egiland in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Oil and gas exploration and extraction Pollution related to transport (spills, dust, emissions) |
| Specific commodities: | Natural Gas |
| Project details | According to NNPC Bulletin 2010, about 9,5 million cubic meters of gas is produced annually from the area by Total E and P Company. |
| Project area: | 45 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 80,000 to 170,000 people. |
| Start of the conflict: | 20/03/2012 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Chevron Corporation (TEPNL) from Nigeria Total SA from France |
| Relevant government actors: | Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the earth Nigeria., Oilwatch Nigeria, Community groups and Networks, Nigerian Media, Other social movements. |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Informal workers Local ejos Landless peasants Social movements Trade unions Women Local scientists/professionals Religious groups |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Community-based participative research (popular epidemiology studies, etc..) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Land occupation Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment Shooting and dissemination of video footage on the gas explosion. |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Fires, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion Potential: Air pollution, Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Genetic contamination, Global warming, Noise pollution, Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Waste overflow, Oil spills, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) Potential: Accidents, Malnutrition, Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Infectious diseases, Deaths, Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Displacement, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Increase in violence and crime, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..) |
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Migration/displacement Under negotiation |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | 1. Adequate clean up and remediation of the area. 2. Proper investigation to ascertain the cause, short and long term effects of the gas eruption on the health, environment and the socioeconomic impacts on the people. 3. Relocation of displaced communities with proper negotiation to ensure that their rights are not denied. 4. Adequate compensation should be paid to communities impacted |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The affected communities still await justice and reparation of the areas has not be achieved. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network | ||||
| Other comments: | Total/Elf, should go beyond cosmetic visit to the affected communities, and attend to peoples demands/proposals brought forward by the mobilizers. |
| Contributor: | Godwin Uyi Ojo |
| Last update | 08/04/2014 |
| Conflict ID: | 537 |