Fueling the Devastation: Oil Drilling in Nigeria

Children watch gas flares in Rumuekpe, Rivers State, Nigeria
(Photo: FOE U.K.)

E-LAW advocate Simon Amaduobogha was born in the village of Torugbene, in what has now become Africa`s largest oil-producing region. While Nigeria earns some $10 billion/year from joint ventures with Shell, Exxon, Mobil, Chevron, Agip, Elf, and Texaco, most people in Simon`s village continue to live in poverty. Ironically, most of the country`s oil is located in or near villages like Torugbene. "I drank from rivers polluted by oil. By the grace of God I`m alive," says Simon.

Appalled by the environmental devastation, Simon studied law and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar. He is now working pro bono as an environmental lawyer at Environmental Rights Action, representing communities suffering environmental damages and human rights abuses at the hands of the oil industry. "We are not against business, we are against lawlessness," he says.

In 1995, the Nigerian government executed Ken Saro-Wiwa, an outspoken Ogoni leader fighting for the rights of his community in the face of Royal Dutch Shell`s pollution in the Niger Delta. Saro-Wiwa`s defense lawyer, Oronto Douglas, is Simon`s law partner and co-founder of the Community Defence Law Foundation (CDLF). The foundation will become Nigeria`s only non-profit organization filing lawsuits on behalf of communities against oil companies.

"We are not against business, we are against lawlessness." -- Simon Amaduobogha

Simon traveled to Eugene in August, to work with E-LAW U.S. to build the capacity of his fledgling non-profit and get the legal and scientific tools he needs for his cases. He studied U.S. laws governing oil pollution, including standards used for calculating damages; reviewed scientific documentation for damage caused by oil spills and gas flaring; and worked on organizational development.

Nigeria`s poor suffer the twin environmental perils of oil extraction — oil spills and gas flaring. Villagers draw their water directly from the same rivers and streams that become catch basins for oil spills. Sanctions for spills are minor. Between 1989 and 2000, more than 536,000 barrels of oil were spilled; only 23,000 barrels were recovered. Land and river restoration are rare. Meanwhile, gas flaring is the cheapest way to eliminate natural gas, a byproduct of oil extraction. Villagers describe the gas flares as "Flames from Hell." These flares contribute to climate change, pollute the air, and bring acid rain to the region.

Simon and Oronto face considerable challenges as they work to help disadvantaged communities. Simon says the Nigerian government is indifferent to its poor, the court system is slow, and the judiciary is corrupt. Few lawyers are willing to make the financial sacrifice to represent the poor and enforce the country`s rule of law. "The courts are far away. It`s impossible for our people to pursue their cases," says Simon. "At the end of the day, nobody fights for the poor communities."

Undeterred, Simon says: "I`m fortunate to be educated. And I`m fortunate to be a lawyer. If we all fold our hands, there will be no change."

E-LAW U.S. thanks Simon for his inspiring and pioneering work.