Maintenance, Security, and Environmental Implications of Pipeline Damage and Ruptures in the Niger Delta Region.

Alawode, A.J. and Ogunleye, I.O. (2011) Maintenance, Security, and Environmental Implications of Pipeline Damage and Ruptures in the Niger Delta Region. Maintenance, Security, and Environmental Implications of Pipeline Damage and Ruptures in the Niger Delta Region., 12 (1). pp. 1-9.

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Abstract

The Niger Delta is one of the world‟s most important wetland and coastal marine ecosystems, and the region has attracted the attention of environmentalists, human rights activists, and fair trade advocates around the world due to oil exploration and production activities carried out there. The pipeline network is constructed at strategic locations for effective distribution of gas and petroleum products from the Niger Delta region to other parts of Nigeria. In ensuring the safety of the grid of oil and gas pipelines, the government acquired a 3.5 m right-of-way on each side of the pipelines before they were laid and the pipes were buried a meter deep to prevent accidental contact. However, recent events have shown that the integrity and safety of the pipelines has been compromised by vandals who tap into them resulting in damage and ruptures. This paper therefore assesses and offers recommendations on the maintenance, security, and environmental implications of pipeline damage and ruptures in the Niger Delta region. The drawbacks of pipeline damage and ruptures include high costs of maintenance and security, reduction in fuel supply for electricity generation, environmental degradation and pollution of waterways due to oil slippage, reduction in revenue for the government, and threats to the socio-political stability of the nation. Therefore, to sustain and improve the integrity and safety of the pipelines, there is the need for a complete overhaul of aging pipelines, frequent checks for pipeline integrity, improved surveillance and introduction of aerial/satellite monitoring of pipeline installations, effective tracking by the Naval force of the inflow of arms and combating oil bunkering and sea piracy, quick response to oil spillage and pipeline vandalism, minimizing restiveness and unemployment through capacity building for the host communities by the provision of education, social infrastructures and small/medium scale enterprises, and increased enlightenment on the adverse consequences of pipeline vandalism.

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