How Nigeria Deals with Environmental Damages? An Environmental Legal Perspective
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Published
Jan 4, 2021
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Abstract
The paper carries out a review of the environmental problems associated with atmospheric pollution, air quality emissions and applicable control mechanisms in the detection and evaluation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in the light of global trends and best practices given the magnitude of gas flaring taking place in Nigeria’s Niger Delta daily. This is flowing from the findings that gas flaring continues to be a major health hazard to humanity, domestic and global environment. Also considered are the Challenges facing air quality and carbon management in Nigeria and the place of the ongoing National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) funded research on air quality and carbon management and the recent release of the twin regulations of: the Flare Gas (Prevention Of Waste And Pollution) Regulations, 2018 and the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialization Programme (NGFCP) by the Federal Government Of Nigeria aimed at stopping gas flares in the year, 2020. The paper adopts an admixture of the historical, comparative, the law and development and empirical approaches in appropriate cases.
Article Details
How to Cite
Abila, S. (2021). How Nigeria Deals with Environmental Damages? An Environmental Legal Perspective. Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 2(1), 51-64. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v2i1.39041
Section
Review Article
All writings published in this journal are personal views of the authors and do not represent the views of this journal and the author's affiliated institutions. Author(s) retain copyrights under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
References
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Abila S.E. (2018). Impacts of Oil/Gas operations on the environment and summary of the legal regime governing the exploration and exploitation of oil mineral resources in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. The University of Port Harcourt Journal of Private Law, 3(1), 162-166.
Abila, S. (2018a). Re-evaluating the stages of oil mineral resources extraction and development process and the impact on the environment. The University of Port Harcourt Journal of Private Law, 3, 76-107.
Abila, S. (2018b). The law and policy of environmental protection in Nigeria, existing challenges and impact on the global environment. Port Harcourt Law Journal, 7(1), 92-108.
Abila, S. (2018c). A Review of the Challenges of Air Pollution in Contemporary Nigerian and Global Environment. The Kwara State Collage Law Journal, 1.
Adeyinka, M.A., Bankole, P.O., & Olaye, S. (2005). Environmental Statistics: situation in Federal Republic of Nigeria. Country report presented at the Workshop on Environmental Statistics, Dakar, Senegal, from 28th February – 4th March 2005.
Ajao, E.A. & Anurigwo, S. (2002). Land-based sources of pollution in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Ambio, 31, 442–445. 2002.
Baumbach, G., Vogt, U., Hein, K.R.G., Oluwole, A.F., Ogunsola, O.J., Olaniyi, H.B., & Akeredolu, F.A. (1995). Air pollution in a large tropical city with high traffic density – results of measurements in Lagos, Nigeria. The Science of the Total Environment, 169, 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(95)04629-F
Chijioke, C., Onuoha, B., Ebong, E., Bassey, I., & Ufomba, H. (2018). The Impact of Oil Exploration and Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Study of Oil Producing Communities in Akwa Ibom State. The Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 18(3), 55-70. https://globaljournals.org/GJHSS_Volume18/4-The-Impact-of-Oil-Exploration.pdf
Derri, D.K., & Abila, S.E. (2009). A critical examination of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act, 2007 in Law and Petroleum Industry in Nigeria Current Challenges, ISBN: 978 978 023 265 6, pp. 1-10.
Dudley, N., et.al. (1997). The Year the World Caught Fire, WWF International Discussion Paper. Gland, Switzerland, WWF. Retrieved from http://www.equilibriumconsultants.com/upload/document/theyeartheworldcaughtfire.pdf
Elsom, D. M. (1992). Atmospheric Pollution: A Global Problem. Wiley-Blackwell: New Jersey, USA
ERML. (1997). Environmental and socio-economics characteristics of the Niger Delta. Niger Delta Environmental Survey Report.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Retrieved from https://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Nigeria_Constitution_1999_en.pdf
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Oludayo, A.G. (2004). Environmental Law and Practice in Nigeria. The University of Lagos: Nigeria.
SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Corporation). (2006). People and the environment. Shell Nigeria Annual Report 2006. Shell Visual Media Services: London.
Squillace, M. (1992). Environmental Law: Air Pollution. Anderson Pub. Co: Salisbury, UK.
Taiwo, O. (2005). The case of Lagos – air quality improvement project. Presentation for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority. Retrieved from www.cleanairnet.org/ssa/1414/articles-69320_Taiwo.pdf.
UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme). (2011). United Nations Environment Programme. ISBN: 978-92-807-3130-9, Job No.: DEP/1337/GE. United Nations Environment Programme,
UNEP. (1992). Chemical Pollution: A Global Review. Geneva: UNEP.
UNDP (The United Nations Development Programme. (2006). Niger delta human development report. UNDP, Abuja, Nigeria.
Wild, A. (1996). Soils and the Environment. Cambridge, UK.
Weiss, E. B., (1988). Trans-boundary Air Pollution: International Legal Aspects of the Cooperation of State. In Barbara Kwiatkowska, Cees Flinterman, and Johan G. Lammers (eds), BRILL Nijhoff: Leiden, The Netherlands.
WHO (World Health Organisation). (2002). Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. The World Health Report 2002. Geneva. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/whr02_en.pdf.
World Bank. (1995). Air Quality Standards. Retrieved from line.http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/em/power/standards/airqstd.stm#who
World Health Organization & Global Environment Monitoring System. (‎1992)‎. Urban air pollution in megacities of the world. Oxford: Blackwell Reference. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39902
Other Sources
Transboundary Air Pollution Act, Geneva, 13 November 1979 in force 16th March 1983, 18 I.L.M. (1979) 1442.
Protocols of 1984 (Geneva) (The 1984 Geneva Protocol on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/emep-protocol
Protocol of 1985 (Helsinki) (The 1985 Helsinki Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30 per cent). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/1985-helsinki-protocol-reduction-sulphur-emissions-or-their-transboundary
Protocol of 1988 (Sofia) (The 1988 Sofia Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes). Retrieved from https://unece.org/fileadmin//DAM/env/lrtap/nitr_h1.htm
Protocol 1991 (Geneva) (The 1991 Geneva Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/protocol-concerning-control-emissions-volatile-organic-compounds
Protocol 1994 (Oslo) (The 1994 Oslo Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/protocol-further-reduction-sulphur-emissions#:~:text=The%201994%20Oslo%20Protocol%20builds,under%20the%201985%20Helsinki%20Protocol.
The Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations. (2018) printed and published by The Federal Government printer. Lagos. Nigeria FGP78/82018350, Government Notice No. 59.
Case
Trail Smelter Arbitration (United State v. Canada) 3 R.I.A.A. 1907 (1941)
Abila S.E. (2018). Impacts of Oil/Gas operations on the environment and summary of the legal regime governing the exploration and exploitation of oil mineral resources in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. The University of Port Harcourt Journal of Private Law, 3(1), 162-166.
Abila, S. (2018a). Re-evaluating the stages of oil mineral resources extraction and development process and the impact on the environment. The University of Port Harcourt Journal of Private Law, 3, 76-107.
Abila, S. (2018b). The law and policy of environmental protection in Nigeria, existing challenges and impact on the global environment. Port Harcourt Law Journal, 7(1), 92-108.
Abila, S. (2018c). A Review of the Challenges of Air Pollution in Contemporary Nigerian and Global Environment. The Kwara State Collage Law Journal, 1.
Adeyinka, M.A., Bankole, P.O., & Olaye, S. (2005). Environmental Statistics: situation in Federal Republic of Nigeria. Country report presented at the Workshop on Environmental Statistics, Dakar, Senegal, from 28th February – 4th March 2005.
Ajao, E.A. & Anurigwo, S. (2002). Land-based sources of pollution in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Ambio, 31, 442–445. 2002.
Baumbach, G., Vogt, U., Hein, K.R.G., Oluwole, A.F., Ogunsola, O.J., Olaniyi, H.B., & Akeredolu, F.A. (1995). Air pollution in a large tropical city with high traffic density – results of measurements in Lagos, Nigeria. The Science of the Total Environment, 169, 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(95)04629-F
Chijioke, C., Onuoha, B., Ebong, E., Bassey, I., & Ufomba, H. (2018). The Impact of Oil Exploration and Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Study of Oil Producing Communities in Akwa Ibom State. The Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 18(3), 55-70. https://globaljournals.org/GJHSS_Volume18/4-The-Impact-of-Oil-Exploration.pdf
Derri, D.K., & Abila, S.E. (2009). A critical examination of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act, 2007 in Law and Petroleum Industry in Nigeria Current Challenges, ISBN: 978 978 023 265 6, pp. 1-10.
Dudley, N., et.al. (1997). The Year the World Caught Fire, WWF International Discussion Paper. Gland, Switzerland, WWF. Retrieved from http://www.equilibriumconsultants.com/upload/document/theyeartheworldcaughtfire.pdf
Elsom, D. M. (1992). Atmospheric Pollution: A Global Problem. Wiley-Blackwell: New Jersey, USA
ERML. (1997). Environmental and socio-economics characteristics of the Niger Delta. Niger Delta Environmental Survey Report.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Retrieved from https://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Nigeria_Constitution_1999_en.pdf
Hunter, D., Salzman, J., Zaelke, D. (eds). (2011). International Environmental Law and Policy. New York, NY: Foundation Press/Thomson Reuters.
Isuwa, S. (2008). Nigeria: transportation, major cause of air pollution. Report of the Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) at a seminar on WHO Air Quality Guidelines. Retrieved from www.allafrica.com/stories/200804040160.html.
IPPC. (1996). Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control. Official Journal L 257, 10/10/1996 P. 0026 – 0040. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A31996L0061
Moffat, D. & Linden, O. (1995). Perception and realities: assessing priorities for sustainable development in the Niger River delta. Ambio, 24, 527–538. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/505397e0e4b097cd4fce63bb
Oludayo, A.G. (2004). Environmental Law and Practice in Nigeria. The University of Lagos: Nigeria.
SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Corporation). (2006). People and the environment. Shell Nigeria Annual Report 2006. Shell Visual Media Services: London.
Squillace, M. (1992). Environmental Law: Air Pollution. Anderson Pub. Co: Salisbury, UK.
Taiwo, O. (2005). The case of Lagos – air quality improvement project. Presentation for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority. Retrieved from www.cleanairnet.org/ssa/1414/articles-69320_Taiwo.pdf.
UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme). (2011). United Nations Environment Programme. ISBN: 978-92-807-3130-9, Job No.: DEP/1337/GE. United Nations Environment Programme,
UNEP. (1992). Chemical Pollution: A Global Review. Geneva: UNEP.
UNDP (The United Nations Development Programme. (2006). Niger delta human development report. UNDP, Abuja, Nigeria.
Wild, A. (1996). Soils and the Environment. Cambridge, UK.
Weiss, E. B., (1988). Trans-boundary Air Pollution: International Legal Aspects of the Cooperation of State. In Barbara Kwiatkowska, Cees Flinterman, and Johan G. Lammers (eds), BRILL Nijhoff: Leiden, The Netherlands.
WHO (World Health Organisation). (2002). Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. The World Health Report 2002. Geneva. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/whr02_en.pdf.
World Bank. (1995). Air Quality Standards. Retrieved from line.http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/em/power/standards/airqstd.stm#who
World Health Organization & Global Environment Monitoring System. (‎1992)‎. Urban air pollution in megacities of the world. Oxford: Blackwell Reference. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39902
Other Sources
Transboundary Air Pollution Act, Geneva, 13 November 1979 in force 16th March 1983, 18 I.L.M. (1979) 1442.
Protocols of 1984 (Geneva) (The 1984 Geneva Protocol on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/emep-protocol
Protocol of 1985 (Helsinki) (The 1985 Helsinki Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30 per cent). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/1985-helsinki-protocol-reduction-sulphur-emissions-or-their-transboundary
Protocol of 1988 (Sofia) (The 1988 Sofia Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes). Retrieved from https://unece.org/fileadmin//DAM/env/lrtap/nitr_h1.htm
Protocol 1991 (Geneva) (The 1991 Geneva Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/protocol-concerning-control-emissions-volatile-organic-compounds
Protocol 1994 (Oslo) (The 1994 Oslo Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions). Retrieved from https://unece.org/environment-policyair/protocol-further-reduction-sulphur-emissions#:~:text=The%201994%20Oslo%20Protocol%20builds,under%20the%201985%20Helsinki%20Protocol.
The Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations. (2018) printed and published by The Federal Government printer. Lagos. Nigeria FGP78/82018350, Government Notice No. 59.
Case
Trail Smelter Arbitration (United State v. Canada) 3 R.I.A.A. 1907 (1941)