Examining the causes and impacts of pipeline disasters in Nigeria

Abstract

The effect of pipeline vandalism among other pipeline disasters has been drastic on the Nigerian economy. The research aims to examine the level of awareness of stakeholders on the immediate and remote causes of pipeline disasters in Nigeria. This involved comprehensive review of literature along with semi-structured and open-ended interviews (as a pilot study) to enrich and strengthen the literature in Nigerian context and subsequently follow-up with semi-structured questionnaire survey; analyzed through content analysis using both descriptive and inferential statistics. In the methodology, three levels were adopted: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), measurement model and structural model in the carrying out of structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis. The CFA analyzes the relationship between the dominant’s variables and their related indicators. Based on the analysis carried out, activities of vandals has the highest influence on pipeline disasters. Human impacts resulting from pipeline disasters are very significant in Nigeria. Also, ecological impacts resulting from pipeline disasters have been extremely significant in Nigeria. There is high level of awareness of pipeline disasters among the different stakeholders interviewed.