Professional Review of Chemical Risk Communication Practices in the Niger Delta Oil and Gas Sector

Effective chemical risk communication is essential to ensuring that communities, workers, and emergency responders understand and can act appropriately upon the hazards associated with oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta. This study reviews chemical risk communication practices employed by oil and gas companies operating in Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States, South South Nigeria, drawing on a sample of ten major operator companies. Data were collected through analysis of publicly available environmental and safety documentation, structured interviews with community liaison officers and health, safety, and environment managers, and focus group discussions with community representatives from five host communities. Communication materials were evaluated using the National Cancer Institute Clear Communication Index and adapted for the Nigerian literacy context. Results reveal that chemical hazard information is primarily communicated through formal written reports that are inaccessible to many community members due to technical language and literacy barriers. Community engagement meetings address chemical risks inconsistently, often reactively following incidents rather than proactively as part of planned programmes. Only two of ten companies had developed chemical risk communication materials in local languages. Community participants consistently reported feeling uninformed about the specific chemicals present in operations near their homes. The study recommends a participatory approach to chemical risk communication, mandated by the Department of Petroleum Resources, with culturally appropriate materials, community health advocates, and regular scheduled disclosure sessions. Keywords: chemical risk communication, Niger Delta, oil and gas, community engagement, South South Nigeria