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ISBN 978-952-60-5798-9 ISBN 978-952-60-5799-6 (pdf) ISSN-L 1799-4934 ISSN 1799-4934 ISSN 1799-4942 (pdf) Aalto University School of Engineering Real Estate Planning and Geoinformatics www.aalto.fi

BUSINESS + ECONOMY ART + DESIGN + ARCHITECTURE SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY CROSSOVER DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS

Aalto-D

D 115

/2014

CHARLES N. NWOKO Environmental Law and Management Gas Flaring is a problem: Microclimate from the gas flares causes enormous heat and evaporation, resulting in excessive dehydration. Poisonous chemicals arising from flares, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, benzene, tolene, xylene and dioxin cause health problems. There is in addition a visibility problem arising from scattered light emanating from the surfaces of air-borne particulates. Greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere is another problem of gas flaring, including 24/7 noise pollution arising from the high frequency oozing sound from the flare stacks. Oil spillage comes next: Crude oil contains several different compounds in the course of its biosynthesis formation – with hydrocarbons on the lead, such as alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatic compounds. Oil spills on both land and sea reduce repellency of water as a result of buoyancy, drowning birds, generating enormous ecological and socioeconomic problems and producing

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Aalto

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Real Estate Planning and Geoinformatics

ASSESSING THE SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS ARISING FROM OIL POLLUTIONS IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA: INCLUDING PROPOSALS FOR SOLUTION. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND MANAGEMENT

CHARLES N. NWOKO

DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS

Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 115/2014

ASSESSING THE SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS ARISING FROM OIL POLLUTIONS IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA: INCLUDING PROPOSALS FOR SOLUTION.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND MANAGEMENT

CHARLES N. NWOKO

A doctoral dissertation completed for the degree of Doctor of Science (Technology) to be defended, with the permission of the Aalto University School of Engineering, at a public examination held at the lecture hall M1 of the school on 22 August 2014 at 12:00.

Aalto University School of Engineering Real Estate, Planning and Geoinformatics

Supervising professor Professor Ari Ekroos Thesis advisor Professor Ari Ekroos Preliminary examiners Professor E. Hollo (Professor Emeritus), Helsinki University Professor Anne Kumpula, Turku University Opponent Professor Juha Kotilainen, University of Eastern Finland.

Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 115/2014 © Charles N. Nwoko ISBN 978-952-60-5798-9 ISBN 978-952-60-5799-6 (pdf) ISSN-L 1799-4934 ISSN 1799-4934 (printed) ISSN 1799-4942 (pdf) http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-60-5799-6 Unigrafia Oy Helsinki 2014 Finland

Abstract Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto www.aalto.fi

Author CHARLES N. NWOKO Name of the doctoral dissertation ASSESSING THE SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS ARISING FROM OIL POLLUTIONS IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA: INCLUDING PROPOSALS FOR SOLUTION. Publisher School of Engineering Unit Real Estate Planning and Geoinformatics

Series Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 115/2014

Field of research ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND MANAGEMENT

Manuscript submitted 24 January, 2014 Date of the defence 22 August 2014

Permission to publish granted (date) 15 April, 2014 Language English

Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles)

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic impacts arising from the oil pollutions

in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, including a possible solution. Nigeria is a developing country with inherent government failures in legal enforcement, and petroleum companies are unable to comply with pertinent petroleum-related legislation. The study target oil spillage and gas flaring as the principal petroleum-related pollutions, and conducts a field study to determine the pollution impacts on the physical environment. The field study covered two oil and gas-hosting communities and the effects of gas flaring and oil spillage were studied and analysed. Farming and fishery are the main sources of livelihood in the study areas, likewise other oil and gas-hosting communities in the Niger Delta, and impacts on farming and fishery will impact on their livelihood.

The study is multidimensional and therefore leans on scientific, law and social methods to prove to achieve its aim and objectives. It is necessary to investigate through laboratory experiments on how pollutions affect the physical environment before resulting to socioeconomic impacts. The laboratory experiments are justified because they are the only scientific method to know how the pollutions impact on the soil, water and air, which negatively affect agriculture and fishery, and thereby causing socioeconomic impacts. The study in addition conducts a secondary method of data collection through questionnaire technique to sample the opinions of the oil-bearing communities. Both the primary and the secondary data are presented in chapter three and research findings in chapter four. The study presents a legal argument (chapter 4.3.1) to attest community perceptions and claims. The major conclusions are firstly that oil-related environmental problems have socioeconomic impacts. Secondly, that solution can be sought through adequate regulatory measures, such as establishing an independent mediating institution, such as an environmental ombudsman, and creating a specialized environmental court or other adjudications.

Keywords Oil Spillage, Gas Flaring, Multinational Corporations, Nigerian Government, Petroleum Legislation, Technology, Environmental Ombudsman and Environmental Court

ISBN (printed) 978-952-60-5798-9 ISBN (pdf) 978-952-60-5799-6

ISSN-L 1799-4934 ISSN (printed) 1799-4934 ISSN (pdf) 1799-4942

Location of publisher Helsinki Location of printing Helsinki Year 2014

Pages 206 urn http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-60-5799-6

9HSTFMG*afhjij+

ISBN 978-952-60-5798-9 ISBN 978-952-60-5799-6 (pdf) ISSN-L 1799-4934 ISSN 1799-4934 ISSN 1799-4942 (pdf) Aalto University School of Engineering Real Estate Planning and Geoinformatics www.aalto.fi

BUSINESS + ECONOMY ART + DESIGN + ARCHITECTURE SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY CROSSOVER DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS

Aalto-D

D 115

/2014

CHARLES N. NWOKO Environmental Law and Management Gas Flaring is a problem: Microclimate from the gas flares causes enormous heat and evaporation, resulting in excessive dehydration. Poisonous chemicals arising from flares, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, benzene, tolene, xylene and dioxin cause health problems. There is in addition a visibility problem arising from scattered light emanating from the surfaces of air-borne particulates. Greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere is another problem of gas flaring, including 24/7 noise pollution arising from the high frequency oozing sound from the flare stacks. Oil spillage comes next: Crude oil contains several different compounds in the course of its biosynthesis formation – with hydrocarbons on the lead, such as alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatic compounds. Oil spills on both land and sea reduce of water as a result of buoyancy, drowning birds, generating enormous ecological and socioeconomic problems

CH

AR

LE

S N. N

WO

KO

A

SSESSIN

G T

HE

SO

CIO

EC

ON

OM

IC IM

PAC

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CLU

DIN

G P

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Aalto

Unive

rsity

Real Estate Planning and Geoinformatics

ASSESSING THE SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS ARISING FROM OIL POLLUTIONS IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA: INCLUDING PROPOSALS FOR SOLUTION. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND MANAGEMENT

CHARLES N. NWOKO

DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS

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