documentary film Sweet Crude, which premiered April 2009 at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, tells the story of Nigeria's Niger Delta. Environmental issues The effects of oil exploration in the fragile region of Niger Delta communities and environment have been enormous. Local indigenous people have seen little of any improvement in their standard of living while suffering serious damage to their natural environment. Some of the hazardous damage of oil and gas exploration in the ecosystem are life threatening which includes Air pollution, Water pollution, Noise pollution etc. Affecting the aquatic lives, human health, also leads to deforestation. According to Nigerian federal government figures, there were more than 7,000 oil spills between 1970 and 2000. It has been estimated that a clean-up of the region, including full restoration of swamps, creeks, fishing grounds and mangroves, could take 25 years. Notes References Niger Delta-Archive of News, Interviews, Articles, Analysis from 1999 to Present Proceedings of the Ibibio Union 1928–1937. Edited by Monday Efiong Noah. Modern Business Press Ltd, Uyo. Urhobo Historical Society (4 August 2003). Urhobo Historical Society Responds to Itsekiri Claims on Wari City and Western Niger Delta. "Nigeria's agony dwarfs the Gulf oil spill. The US and Europe ignore it" External links National Geographic Magazine: "Curse of the Black Gold, Hope, and betrayal on the Niger Delta" — February 2007 issue. Nigerdeltaforum.com: forum on the Niger Delta and its people Niger-Delta Development Commission, Niger Delta: A Brief History American Association for the Advancement of Science, Niger Delta Environmental Rights Action News on the Niger Delta Delta Gulf of Guinea Niger Landforms of Nigeria Freshwater ecoregions of Africa Ecoregions of Nigeria Afrotropical ecoregions