The Legal Challenges of Combating Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria grapples with persistent challenges related to oil spillages posing significant environmental, social, and economical risks. Despite numerous efforts to address this issue, various legal hurdles impede the effective combating of oil spills in the region. The problem of this research, therefore, is, why is that oil spillage in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has continued unabated despite the numerous legal and institutional frameworks put in place for combating oil spillages in the Niger Delta. The aim of this research then is to examine the legal challenges of combating oil spillages in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. To achieve this, the researcher adopted the doctrinal research method. This method is the use of both primary and secondary resource materials in dealing with the subject matter under investigation. The researcher discovered that corruption and lack of transparency is one of the major reasons why oil spillage in the region continues unabated. It is therefore recommended that anti-corruption measures and enhanced transparency within regulatory agencies by adopting digital tracking systems for monitoring oil spill incidence should be established. This research has contributed to knowledge because it has affirmed that identification of jurisdictional complexities which impede the effectiveness of regulation and enforcement of oil activities in the Niger Delta region is a clog to the legal framework for combating oil spill in the region.