Niger Delta

Not to be confused with Inner Niger Delta.
Map of Nigeria numerically showing states typically considered part of the Niger Delta region: 1. Abia, 2. Akwa Ibom, 3. Bayelsa, 4. Cross River, 5. Delta, 6. Edo, 7.Imo, 8. Ondo, 9. Rivers
View of the Niger Delta from space (north/land at top).

The Niger Delta is the delta of the Niger River sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria.[1][2] It is located within nine coastal southern Nigerian states, which include: all six states from the South South geopolitical zone, one state (Ondo) from South West geopolitical zone and two states (Abia and Imo) from South East geopolitical zone.

The Niger Delta is a very densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil.[3] The area was the British Oil Rivers Protectorate from 1885 until 1893, when it was expanded and became the Niger Coast Protectorate.

The delta is a petroleum-rich region and has been the center of international concern over extensive pollution which is often used as an example of ecocide.[4][5][6][7] The principal cause is major oil spills by multinational corporations of the petroleum industry.[8][9]

  1. ^ C. Michael Hogan, "Niger River", in M. McGinley (ed.), Encyclopedia of Earth Archived 2013-04-20 at the Wayback Machine, Washington, DC: National Council for Science and Environment, 2013
  2. ^ Umoh, Unyime U.; Li, Li; Wang, Junjian; Kauluma, Ndamononghenda; Asuquo, Francis E.; Akpan, Ekom R. (August 2022). "Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether signatures in tropical mesotidal estuary sediments of Qua Iboe River, Gulf of Guinea". Organic Geochemistry. 170: 104461. Bibcode:2022OrGeo.17004461U. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2022.104461. S2CID 249615285.
  3. ^ Otoabasi, Akpan (2011). The Niger Delta Question and the peace plan. Spectrum Books.
  4. ^ "'Ecocide' movement pushes for a new international crime: Environmental destruction". NBC News. 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  5. ^ "Fighting ecocide in Nigeria". theecologist.org. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  6. ^ "UNPO: Ogoni: An Ecocide in the Making?". unpo.org. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  7. ^ "How an ecocide law could prevent another Nigerian oil disaster". The Guardian. 2011-08-22. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  8. ^ Aghalino, S.O (2004). Combating the Niger Delta Crisis: an appraisal of Federal Government response to Anti-Oil protect in Niger Delta, 1958-2002. Maiduguri journal of Historical studies.
  9. ^ Dakolo, Bubaraye (2021). The Riddle of the Oil Thief. Lagos: Purple Shelves. pp. 117–170. ISBN 9789789889907.