| en |
Ecological effects and perceptions of victims of pipeline explosion in a developing country
Omodanisi, E.O.; Eludoyin, A.O. & Salami, A.T.
Abstract
Petroleum pipeline network is a critical infrastructure
that should be protected because of its importance
and the danger of fire disaster and ecosystem disruption if
unprotected. However, the procedure for the management
of the pipeline in Nigeria is probably faulty, and we think
that this accounts for the multiple occurrences of pipeline
fires in Nigeria between 1998 and 2007. Our study involves
the use of satellite imageries, ecological sampling, questionnaire
and personal interaction with some of the victims
of the December 2006 pipeline fire in Ilado-Odo community
in Lagos State, Nigeria. We attributed the causes of
pipeline fires to poor pipeline network monitoring, poor
communication and transportation in the vulnerable communities,
and the inability of the pipeline management
agency to ensure adequate community participation. We
found that the biotic and abiotic components of the Ilado-Odo community were severely impaired, and we think that
the impact may last for a long time if there is no postdisaster
recovery programme. We conclude that the present
method of labour-intensive approach to pipeline monitoring
in Nigeria can promote further development of organised
crime as explained by the Queer Ladder concept. We
therefore recommend better tracking system, enhanced
communication and transport infrastructure, as well as the
review of the existing right-of-way regulations, and their
strict enforcement around all critical infrastructures.
Keywords
Critical infrastructure; Pipeline fires; Ecological effects; Multi-perspective analysis
|
