A group of activist hackers in Nigeria are taking matters into their own hands to fight against environmental degradation caused by oil refinery pollution in the Niger Delta. Following a court ruling in the UK that found Shell not directly responsible for a 2011 oil spill in Nigeria's offshore Bonga oil field, these activists are determined to gather concrete evidence of pollution and its sources. According to a report by IEEE Spectrum, they are turning to DIY data collection to achieve this.
The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI) is a civil society organization based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. They have embarked on a mission to build a cost-effective air pollution monitoring network to pinpoint polluters with undeniable data. Since 2022, MAJI has initiated the installation of 15 air-quality sensors in and around Port Harcourt, Nigeria's fifth-largest city. These sensors, combined with cellular-enabled and non-cellular devices, monitor particulate matter, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure.
The health implications of the pollution underscore the urgency of this initiative. Soot, a byproduct of oil spills, gas flaring, and poorly maintained refineries, poses severe health risks to the local population. The particles are so fine that they can enter the bloodstream, leading to many health issues, including congenital malformations in newborns. Consultant Toxicologist Orish Orisakwe of the University of Port Harcourt has highlighted this issue.
Despite the apparent dangers, local and federal policymakers have acted slowly. Nigeria, Africa's top oil producer, has a complex relationship with major oil companies. However, MAJI remains hopeful that their data, made available through various channels, will eventually influence policy decisions and bring about positive change for Nigerians.
For the Nigerians living in the Delta, this grassroots effort represents a beacon of hope in their fight for a cleaner environment and a healthier future.
