Effect of Gas Flaring on Human Well Being and Environment in Obodo-Ugwa, Ndokwa West, Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

Introduction

Gas flaring is the combustion of natural gas mixed with oil during oil extraction process, which poses significant threats to both human wellbeing and the environment [1]. Gas flaring involves burning off natural gas associated with crude oil when there is insufficient infrastructure to capture or utilize the gas. The process releases pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. Additionally, the process generates unpleasant noise, unbearable heat, smoke, and carbon monoxide, contributing to global warming that is resulting to climate change and negatively impacting both the health of the people, biodiversity and the entire environment [2].

Gas flaring occurs in the oil and natural gas sector when light hydrocarbon, particularly methane is flared for economic and technical reasons. In 2018, 145 billion m3 of gas was flared worldwide [3]. This result in the emission of 350 million tons of CO2, equivalent to 1% of the global carbon dioxide emission associated with the combustion of fossil fuels [4]. The burning of this excess gas comes from the production of fossil fuel and derivatives, mainly 90% from the upstream processing or extraction stage [5].

The flaring of natural gas is typically carried out using flare stacks, elevated structures that release the gas into the atmosphere. This practice is a byproduct of oil drilling, where gas is often wasted rather than being repurposed or reinjected into the reservoir for storage. Studies indicate that gas flaring causes air and water pollution, harming aquatic life, crops, vegetation, and human health. The flare zones, extending up to 0.5 km from the stack base, becomes unsuitable for human habitation due to high temperatures, noise, and light pollution. This elevated temperature affects not only humans but also the entire ecosystem, including fauna and flora [6].

The impact of gas flaring extends to both local and global levels, with direct emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen into the atmosphere at temperatures as high as 1,600oC [7]. Nigeria, being the sixth (6th) largest oil producer globally and the seventh (7th)-largest gas reserve holder, ranks fifth (5th) in gas flaring worldwide [8]. This calls for the urgent need for attention and remediation to mitigate environmental degradation to protect endangered species [8].

Oil exploration began in Nigeria in 1958. Subsequently, oil exploration extended across the 75,000 km2 expanse of the Niger Delta. Notably, the practice of flaring and venting Associated Petroleum Gas (APG) in the region has been identified as a significant contributor, releasing approximately 35 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually, posing a substantial environmental concern for both Nigeria and the global community [9].

Studies by Ite AE and Ibok UJ [10] reported that the Niger Delta alone flares about 2.5 billion cubic feet of gas daily, emitting various anthropogenic gases and hazardous substances, including carcinogens and heavy metals. The impact of gas flaring on human health and the environment as reported by Gobo AE, et al. [11] and Lee C, et al. [12] reveals the need for urgent attention. Ogwu CE, et al. [1] attributed the major issues in the Niger Delta to the oil and gas industries’ non-compliance with environmental laws and government policies on gas flaring. Obodo-Ugwa the study area situated in the Ndokwa Local Government Area of Delta State, with a population of around 3,000 people, serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges faced by communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The detrimental effects of gas flaring on both the environment and residents are evident in this small community. The abundant biodiversity in the region is rapidly declining, and the overall health of the community is deteriorating, likely due to the environmental consequences of prolonged exposure to gas flaring.

Gas flaring has the potential to disrupt the socio-economic fabric of the community by impacting agriculture, fisheries, and local livelihoods [13]. The economic consequences and potential displacement of residents due to adverse effects on their means of sustenance need to be investigated within the local context. The persistent challenges associated with gas flaring in the Niger Delta region, particularly in small communities like Obodo-Ugwa, despite extensive research efforts and recommendations aimed at addressing the issue and the regrettable non implementation by the Nigerian government and multinational oil companies is a source of concern in the study area. This situation is exacerbated by the global concern over Nigeria’s significant contribution to carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases. Despite being a global concern, the specific impact of gas flaring on this local community remains inadequately addressed. Gas flaring is a common practice in the oil and gas industry located in Obodo-Ugwa community and poses significant threats to human wellbeing and the environment. This study examines the environmental impact of gas flaring in Obodo-ugwa, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State Nigeria. The focus is on investigating the impact of gas flaring on human well-being and the environment in the study area where not much studies has been conducted to date.

Theoretical Framework

This study is anchored on the theory of environmental justice which is often attributed to Dr. Robert Bullard, often referred to as the “father of environmental justice.” Robert Bullard is a prominent scholar and activist who has written extensively on the intersection of race, poverty, and the environment. The concept of environmental justice emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a response to the disproportionate burden of environmental pollution and degradation experienced by marginalized communities, particularly communities of color and low-income. Poor and vulnerable communities often face environmental injustices, leaving them unable to combat or reverse detrimental trends, thereby further marginalizing them in society. Mohai P and Saha R [14] stress that calls for environmental justice essentially demand fair governance in affected regions. Mehta L, et al. [15] expanded the discussion of social justice beyond distribution to include recognition of differences, political participation and good governance.

This study uses the concept of social justice to examine environmental and ecological justice in Obodo-Ugwa, Ndokwa West Delta State in the Niger Delta region where gas flaring poses challenges for local impoverished communities. Sobrasuaipiri S [16] refers to the situation in the Niger Delta as a “Nigerian Environmental Apocalypse,” and the region’s distributional issues are labeled as “Resource Curse,” impacting oil-producing communities negatively.

The environmental justice theory, focusing on multinational oil corporations’ impact on the environment, incorporates a broader social justice discourse, including social recognition, participation, and distributional issues. Schlosberg D [17] argues that incorporating recognition and participation as justice issues can unite human and nature- focused movements for environmental justice.

The degradation caused by gas flaring in the Niger Delta contributes to further poverty, affecting the exercise of basic rights [18]. As ecosystem functions decline, the poor, who bear minimal responsibility, suffer the most, impacting their lives and livelihoods. Martin A, et al. [19] suggest emphasizing general concepts of equality in advocating for environmental justice in the Niger Delta.

Schlosberg D [17] underscores the importance of refining the understanding of environmental injustice mechanisms. Environmental justice has been applied in various issues, such as gas flaring, transportation, energy development, and water quality in the Niger Delta movement. Mehta L, et al. [15] propose a capability approach to justice, highlighting its utility in addressing the relationship between the environment, human needs, and ecosystem functioning.

The lack of governance undermines ecological support systems, leading to injustice for both humans and non- humans. Walker G [20] criticizes environmental justice studies for being insufficient in revealing inequalities and understanding the underlying processes, while Schlosberg D [17] contends that the approach provides a broad framework to comprehend the demands of environmental justice movements.

Description of the Study Area

Obodo-Ugwa is located in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria with headquarters in Kwale (Utagba-Ogbe) town. Ndokwa West Local Government Area has an area of 816km2 and a population of 149,325 people according to the 2006 census [21] while Obodo-Ugwa has a population of around 3,000 people. It is located between latitude 6° 09ꞌN and 6° 29ꞌN of the equator and longitude 5°30ꞌE and 6°03ꞌE of the Greenwich meridian at an elevation of zero (0) meters above sea level as shown in Figure 1.

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The climate of Obodo-ugwa is a sub-tropical humid climate based on Koppen’s climatic classification scheme. It has an average temperature of 27.6°C. It receives about 256cm3 of rainfall with about 314.12 rainy days (86.06% of the time) annually [23]. The entire Obodo-ugwa has approximately 50.8799 (13.94%) days of no rainfall annually [23]. The vegetation is a tropical rain forest with moist evergreen vegetation and tall trees. Unfortunately, the natural vegetation has been altered greatly by anthropogenic activities such as agricultural activities, oil exploration and constructions that reduced the natural vegetation of tropical rain forest to forest islands [24]. Obodo-Ugwa is a flat low-lying community with an elevation close to sea level in Niger Delta region. The terrain is characterized by network of rivers, creeks, and swamps. The area is intersected by numerous waterways, including the Ase, Tamer, and Umi Rivers, all of which drain into the larger Niger River system. The region has ecosystem that support diverse wildlife [25]. The flat relief and extensive waterways also make the area prone to flooding during the rainy season, which impact the local community and agriculture [26]. The study area is underlain by sedimentary rocks, primarily composed of sand stone, shale, and clay that were deposited by the Niger river and its distributaries [27]. This sedimentary deposited have been shaped by the process of erosion, transportation and deposition associated with the vast river system in the region [28]. Obodo-Ugwa is an important oil-producing community in the Niger Delta region with oil companies such as Agip Oil Company, Sterling Global Company, Mid-western Company and many others [21]. Farming is the major economic activities there, which is done at subsistence level, though there are a few commercial holdings especially for tree crop production such as oil palm trees. Crops such as plantain, cassava, maize, yam, okro, pepper and vegetable are the main food crops grown in the study area. Forestry, mining and hunting are part of the other primary activates done [27]. The people of Obodo-Ugwa also sees the forest as their sources of woods for building, source of energy (fuel wood) and herbs from the forest for local medication. They engaged in different Agricultural activities as their source of livelihood. There are also civil servants, politicians and laborers as skilled and unskilled workers. The people of Obodo-Ugwa are majorly self-employed (motorcycles, vehicles and bicycle).

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Materials and Methods

The survey research design was adopted in this study. This involved field observation and collection of water samples for laboratory analysis. Structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from members of the community on the impact of gas flaring on human wellbeing and the environment. Additionally, landsat data for 2003, 2013, and 2023 were used to assess the impact of gas flaring on the local flora. The satellite imagery was used to compute the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). NDVI quantifies the amount of vegetation greenness based on the principle that green vegetation during photosynthesis absorbs radiation in the visible band of the electromagnetic spectrum. On the other hand, near infrared is strongly reflected by the plant [29]. The near infrared is computed using the formula;

( ) ( ) NIR-RED NDVI= (1) NIR+RED

Where, NIR= Near Infrared Reflectance Value RED= Red Reflectance Value

The NDVI values were calculated. The result of NDVI ranging from -1 to +1 with higher values indicating healthier vegetation (close to 1) and lower values indicating less vegetation or non-vegetated area (close to -1). The metadata information of the landsat data used are shown in Table 1.

The water quality assessment focused on river, two well water designated as (W1) and (W2), one borehole (B), and one river (R). The collected samples were placed in clean plastic bottles, stored at room temperature, and transported to the laboratory within a five-day period for physicochemical analysis, while the soil sample was collected from the farm area of the community in a plastic container and was also taken to the laboratory for analysis. The samples were analyzed at the laboratory of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The study employs standard water quality test to determine the physicochemical parameters of the water samples. The parameters analyzed include physicochemical and heavy metal concentrations in the samples. The physicochemical parameters included Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Turbidity, Salinity, and Electrical Conductivity (EC). The heavy metals analyzed are manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn). The values of these heavy metals were compared with the WHO and National Standard for Water Quality / permissible limit for portable water. The study administered 232 copies of questionnaire randomly to respondents in ten (10) different quarters in the study area as indicated in Table 2.

An inferential statistic such as the Analysis of Variance was used to compute the difference in the calculated values and the WHO values for both water samples and the soil samples, while a simple percentage was uses for demographic data.

Conclusion

This study has examined the effect of gas flaring on human well-being and environment in Obodo-Ugwa, Ndokwa West, Local Government Area Delta State, Nigeria. The findings of the study revealed that gas flaring has had an adverse effect on the health of the people and the environment in the study area especially the quality of their sources of drinking water, soil and vegetation. The result of the physicochemical analysis indicates the presence of some heavy metals in the drinking water sources and soil samples of the study area. The NDVI result shows 80% deterioration in vegetation health including farm land as only patches of healthy vegetation on the periphery as evident from 2003, 2013 and 2023 where the highest greenness index ranged from 0.26 to 0.34 in 2023, indicating that over the period of study, the forest in these areas have been degraded to mere shrubs.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made:

• There is need for Nigerian government to demonstrate commitment to zero flare which is a win for the global climate change issue. This will enable the country to use the flared gas for production of synthetic fuels (gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil) which is a win for the quest for cleaner transportation energy.
• Government should take proactive measures to safeguard water sources by implementing measures that will treat and purify water sources that have been contaminated by gas flaring activities. encouraging the use of the gas that is flared such as generation of electricity that is considered a win for employing efficient water treatment machine to provide clean drinking water, standard water for the fish farming aqua-culture ponds, production of chemical for drugs production and creation of jobs for operating the facilities thereby improving the quality of life in the affected areas.
• Production of liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) in place of gas flaring can replace fire wood thereby protecting the physical environment. This will go a long way in providing sustainable solutions to the problem of gas flaring in the affected communities.
• Government should undertake afforestation programs to restore vegetation and biodiversity in areas affected by gas flaring. Nigerian government will need to consider the proposed global solution approaches that emphasizes real-time monetization of associated petroleum gas (APG) flaring, using on-site skid mounted units/modular.
• The government and multinational oil companies should consider investing in community-driven initiatives that will mitigate the far-reaching impacts of gas flaring on both human populations and the natural environment.
• With the continuous gas flaring activity in the study area, there will be need for periodic monitoring of soil, water and vegetation in the study area. Measures should be put in place to minimize or mitigate the release of pollutants from gas flaring activities into the environment.
• Government may need to enforce the adoption of cleaner technologies by the multinational oil companies operating in the study area. Government need to support the development of modular refineries that can convert the entire flare stream from a location to any of the most required variety of products.