The Dean, Faculty of
Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt, Professor Ikem Kris Eloka Ekweozor has said that 115000 barrels of crude oil are spilled yearly into the Niger Detla as a result of illegal oil bunkering.
Professor Okweozor paper entitled,”Appraisal of Industrialisation And Environmental Pollution: A Marine Biology Perspective” at the 29th inaugural lecture of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt also said that over 200 barrels worth of crude oil pollution had accured in the upper estuary of the region within the past one year.
He said that this situation has made the Niger Delta the worst polluted region in the world.
The university don noted that oil pollution has also led to the depopulation of micro organisms in the Niger Delta as both trees and animals have been killed by pollution.
Professor Ekweozor also decried the impact of dredging in the region.
The impact of dredging on mangrove is far reaching because it affects almost all the various components of the ecosystem including the poor people who depend directly on the rich biodiversity of the mangrove ecosystem for survival.
“Together with problems associated with dredging in mangrove areas oil production in the Niger Delta has been associated with serious environmental degradation” he said.
The University don also attributed the rise in illegal oil bunkering activities to failed promises by the politicians.
The painful aspect of the situation concerns the active youths of the area who may not totally be blamed, particularly when governments and politicians promise that solution to their problem were in pipeline after waiting for the maerialisation of such solutions they resort to cutting of the pipelines, he said.
Professor Ekweozor however said that something must be done to check the situation.
Recycling machines at the Rivers State scrap-to-wealth programme Centre at Kira in Tai LGA. Photo: Chris Monyanaga