The environmental catastrophe caused by oil extraction in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region continues, with cumulative spills of 13 million barrels of crude oil largely paralyzing mangrove forests and fishing grounds. Despite the government’s commitment to ecological restoration, Shell is delaying cleanup on the grounds of “safety risks,” oil theft is rampant, and young people are forced to participate in the illegal chain.2025 In June, the UN reported that 70% of children in the region suffer from chronic illnesses due to drinking contaminated water, while the government is still planning to double oil production, exacerbating the ecological and social crises.2026 The Niger Delta is also experiencing an environmental crisis due to the oil spill.
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