Crude Oil and Fractional Spillages Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation in Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria: A Review About the Environmental and Public Health Impact

Abstract

The Niger Delta basin of Nigeria situates on the continental margin of the Gulf of Guinea in the equatorial West Africa between latitudes 3o and 6o North and longitudes 5o and 8o East. The word “Delta” is derived from a Greek alphabet in shape of a pyramidal triangle. A delta is a geographical feature formed when a River diversifies into numerous streams that sometimes inter-connect into an intricate web of Rivers, lagoons, swamps and wet land. The point where the main rivers divides is the top of the pyramid while the base is where the division ends or the River enters the sea or larger water course such as a lake. The Niger Delta on the Atlantic coast is one of the moist important in the world. Other worlds notable Deltas include the Nile, Mississippi, Orinoco, Ganges and Mekong (Ibru, 2001). Deltas are usually fertile, contain diverse resources and are therefore noted for large human settlements and civilizations. The Niger Delta complex is one of the most prominent basins in West Africa and actually the largest delta in Africa. It includes the Imo River and Cross River deltas and extends into the continental margins of Cameroun and Equatorial Guinea (Reijers et al 1996).