PHD DISSERTATION Sustainable Environmental Management in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: Effects of Hydrocarbon Pollution on Local Economy A thesis approved by the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Process Engineering at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the academic degree of PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Environmental and Resource Management by Ugochukwu, Collins Norberth Chinedu (M.Sc., M.Eng.) born in Nguru Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. Supervisors: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Ertel, BTU Cottbus - Germany Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Michael Schmidt, BTU Cottbus - Germany Date of Oral Examination: 29 th September, 2008 DOKTORARBEIT Nachhaltiges Umweltmanagement in der Region des Niger Delta in Nigeria: Auswirkungen der Verunreinigung durch Kohlenwasserstoffe auf die örtliche Wirtschaft Von der Fakultät für Umweltwissenschaften und Verfahrenstechnik der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universität Cottbus zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades PhD Degree genehmigte Dissertation vorgelegt von Ugochukwu, Collins Norberth Chinedu (M.Sc., M.Eng.) aus Nguru Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Ertel, BTU Cottbus, Germany Gutachter: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Michael Schmidt, BTU Cottbus, Germany Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 29 th September, 2008 DECLARATION I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my original research work carried out at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, Germany within the framework of the International PhD ( Doctor of Philosophy ) program in Environmental and Resource Management. Professor Jürgen Ertel, Head Chair of Industrial Sustainability of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, has been the main Supervisor of this research. Professor Michael Schmidt, Head Chair of Environmental Planning of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, Germany, acted as co-supervisor. I hereby admit that this dissertation has never been submitted in whole or in part for a degree at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, or elsewhere. References to other people’s research have been duly cited and acknowledged in this research work accordingly. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ugochukwu Collins Norberth Chinedu ii Ugochukwu Collins, 2008 DEDICATION This research work is dedicated to: God Almighty who led me throughout my stay in Germany May your name be glorified now and forever, Amen. My beloved wife - Mrs. Onyekachi Evangeline Ugochukwu and our unborn children. iii Ugochukwu Collins, 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION...........................................................................................................ii DEDICATION..............................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………… viii LIST OF FIGURES .....................................................................................................ix LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................x ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................XI SUMMARY ................................................................................................................xiii ZUSAMMENFASSUNG.............................................................................................xv Chapter One ..................................................................................................................1 The Framework of the Study........................................................................................1 1.0 Statement of the Problem...........................................................................................1 1.1 Aims and Objectives of this Research........................................................................2 1.2 Study Expectations ....................................................................................................2 1.3 Methodological Approach Used in the Study.............................................................3 1.4 Problems Encountered during Data Collection...........................................................5 1.5 The Outline of the Dissertation ..................................................................................5 1.6 General Literature Review.........................................................................................6 Chapter Two..................................................................................................................9 A Brief Description of Nigeria and Demography of the Study Area (Niger Delta Region)...........................................................................................................................9 2.0 A Brief Overview about the Federal Republic of Nigeria...........................................9 2.1 Economic Overview ................................................................................................10 2.2 The Discovery of Oil in Nigeria...............................................................................11 2.2.1 Oil Exploration and Exploitation...........................................................................13 2.2.2 Oil and Gas Reserves in Nigerian Niger Delta ......................................................14 2.2.3 Recent Developments in the Oil Industry in Nigeria .............................................14 2.2.4 Production Capacity..............................................................................................15 2.3 Oil and the Nigerian Economy.................................................................................17 2.4 An Assessment of the Present State of the Nigerian Environment............................19 2.5 Demography of the Study Area (Niger Delta region) ...............................................23 2.5.1 Description of Study Area.....................................................................................23 2.5.2 The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria and its Characteristic Features........................27 2.6 The Ecological Zones of the Niger Delta .................................................................29 2.7 Biological Diversity.................................................................................................31 2.8 The Hydrology and Geology of the Niger Delta.......................................................35 Chapter Three .............................................................................................................37 Environmental Sustainability and Sustainable Development Issues in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria...............................................................................................37 3.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................37 3.1 Environmental Sustainability Issues in Nigeria ........................................................38 3.2 The Concept of Sustainable Development................................................................40 3.3 Important Milestones in Sustainable Development...................................................42 3.4 Achieving Sustainable Development in Nigeria .......................................................45 3.4.1 Some Indicators of Sustainable Development in a Country ...................................48 3.5 Development & Economic Growth..........................................................................49 3.5.1 Economic Growth.................................................................................................50 3.6 The Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility......................................................53 3.6.1 World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) ........................54 3.6.2 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).....................56 iv Ugochukwu Collins, 2008 3.6.3 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSGI)...........................................................58 3.7 Corporate Social Responsibility and the Oil Companies Operating in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria..........................................................................................................59 3.8 The Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria......60 3.8.1 Nigeria’s Partnership with UNDP in Achieving the MDGs...................................62 3.8.2 Nigeria and Meeting the Goals..............................................................................62 3.8.3 Progress on the Implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) in Nigeria ..........................................................................................................................63 3.9 National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS).................65 3.9.1 The Performance of NEEDS in Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria ......................................................................................................................................66 3.10 The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) ............................................67 3.10.1 Funding of the Commission................................................................................68 3.11 Policy Implications of the Various