RECALIBRATING THE LEGAL APPROACH TO OIL SPILL REGULATION IN NIGERIA’S NIGER DELTA REGION: INSIGHTS FROM ALBERTA ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Date
2024-07-16
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0009-0008-3122-6332
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The Niger Delta region of Nigeria symbolizes a contradiction, showcasing both abundant crude oil reserves and widespread poverty among its inhabitants. Oil spills arising from the production of crude oil in the area have led to several environmental issues. The challenges in the region persist despite efforts to address them through suitable regulations. There is a noticeable failure of the environmental regulatory and enforcement frameworks in Nigeria, which has prompted this study to determine the effectiveness of these frameworks in combatting oil spill pollution in the Niger Delta and to consider whether these existing frameworks are adequate to promote sustainable development in the region.
This thesis analyzes the regulatory and enforcement frameworks for oil spills in Nigeria and discovers that the major problem with the existing regulations is enforcement. The thesis examines potential environmental regulatory and enforcement alternatives to the current framework in Nigeria, utilizing knowledge from the environmental regulatory and enforcement system in place in Alberta’s oil and gas industry. Whilst undertaking this comparative research, the thesis critically assesses the degree to which both systems have been effective and pinpoints lessons Nigeria may learn from Alberta. The research further identifies plausible recommendations premised on the outcome of the comparative analysis that will improve the functionality of the regulatory and enforcement framework in Nigeria targeted at addressing oil spills in the Niger Delta and improving sustainable development.
Description
Keywords
Oil spills, Sustainable development, Regulations, Enforcement
Citation
Degree
Master of Laws (LL.M.)
Department
Law
Program
Law