International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B7. Istanbul 2004
pipeline vandalisation, and assist in combating and managing oil
spill incidents.
5.3 International Co-operation
Cracking down on smugglers has proved difficult, since many
people accuse the federal government of pocketing much of the
oil wealth, and the oil companies of plundering local resources
while abandoning the Delta dwellers to pollution, poverty,
unemployment and disease. To shore up the fight against oil
smugglers in Nigeria, the US has donated three 56 metre (180ft)
refitted World War two-era patrol oats to the navy. Another four
vessels are due to be delivered by December, according to the
United Nations. The Pentagon is funding each boat’s
refurbishment to the tune of $3.5m.
The efforts of the Federal Government with the assistance of the
US are already yielding fruits. Several tankers have been
intercepted by the Nigerian Navy. The tanker, African Pride, has
become the latest vessel intercepted by the Nigerian Navy in the
Gulf of Guinea and it is believed to be part of a fleet which aids
the theft of an estimated 200,000 barrels a day from the Delta
swamps. The tanker had the biggest consignment of all the 15
vessels seized since January 2002. Its crew of 18 Russians, two
Romanians and two Georgians have been remanded in prison
custody awaiting a court hearing.
5.4 Effective Management of Oil Spill Incidents in
the Country
A successful combating operation to a marine oil spill is
dependent on a rapid response from the time the oil spill is
reported until it has been fully combated. In order to reduce the
response time and qualify the decision-making process,
application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as an
operational tool has been suggested. Information on the exact
position and size of the oil spill can be plotted on maps in GIS
and a priority of the combat efforts and means according to the
identified coastal sensitive areas can be carried out. GIS offers
opportunities for integration of oil drift forecast models
(prediction of wind and current influence on the oil spill) in the
computer program framework (Milaka, 1995).
Required information for oil spill sensitivity mapping can be
depicted on a set of thematic maps using GIS even though they
can in theory be depicted onto a single sheet. With the use ofa
GIS, however, all the relevant information or themes can be
stored in the system and produced onto maps in a format that
befits the needs of the day. Alternatively, modelling exercises
using the GIS can be conducted to assess the adequacy of any
given oil spill contingency plan (Parthiphan, 1994).
The creation of regional spill response centres along coastlines will
help in managing oil spill problems (Smith and Loza, 1994). The
centres will use oil spill models for combating oil spill problems.
Using data collected with an airborne system to input one or several
new starting point(s) into the model, will improve the accuracy of
the further predictions (Sandberg, 1996). Oil spillage can also be
treated or removed by natural means, mechanical systems,
absorbents, burning, gelling, sinking and dispersion. Oil spillage can
be removed by natural means through the process of evaporation,
photochemical oxidation and dispersions (Smith 1977).
Bioremediation can also be used for managing oil spill problems
(Hoff, 1993; Prince, 1993). Oil spill dispersal can also be managed
by using oil spill trajectory and fate models, oil booms and mops,
surfactant chemicals, oil skimmers, absorbents and gels.
An effective response to a marine oil spill requires knowledge of
the sensibility of the coastal zones to determine priorities of the
combat activities to protect the most sensitive areas. In order to
assist the decision-makers in choosing the areas of priority,
coastal sensitivity maps of Nigeria including areas of ecological
and socio-economic interest must be produced at small scales.
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Conclusion
Oil spill has occurred several times along the Nigerian coast as a
result of upsurge in oil exploration and exploitation activities. The
causes of oil spillage along our coast are corrosion of oil pipes and
storage tanks, sabotage and carelessness during oil production
operations. The impacts of spillage on our coastal areas are
enormous. Lives have been lost, the coastal habitat and ecology have
also been destroyed. There have been numerous calls and agitations
for resource control by oil producing states in the country. This calls
has made the Federal Government to give the states the rights to
control minerals within 200m bathy lines and the coastlands.
Tides and ocean currents are the major factors responsible for oil
spill movement along our coastline. Wind drift current and waves
are secondary factors for moving oil spill
Oil spill dispersal can be managed by using oil spill trajectory and
fate models, oil booms and mops, surfactant chemicals, oil
skimmers, absorbents and gels. The oil producing companies in
Nigeria formed in 1981 the Clean Nigeria Association (C.N.A.) as
a contingency plan towards managing major oil spill incidents
along the Nigerian coast. Establishment of regional spill response
centres along our coastlines, and the use of data collected with an
airborne system will help in managing oil spill problems in Nigeria.
6.2 Recommendations
There is a need for a better understanding of the coastal ecology
so as to evaluate the significance of the impacts generated by oil
spill incidents.
The Federal Government in conjunction with oil parastatals and
other non-governmental agencies should create more meteorological
stations near the shoreline or on the coastal waters. The
meteorological stations should provide real time or predicted
meteorological data of the surrounding environment. This data
would serve among other things as input data into oil spill models.
Medium scale digital maps should be made from satellite images
from the newly launched Nigeria Sat-l. Images from the satellite
and other satellites in orbit could also be use for managing oil spill
incidents in the country.
Establishment of regional spill response centres along our coastlines,
and the use of data collected with an airborne system wil! help in
managing oil spill problems in Nigeria.
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