Redressing harmful environmental practices in the Nigerian petroleum industry through the criminal justice approach

Brown, Cleverline T; Okogbule, Nlerum S

Abstract

The discovery and continued exploitation of crude oil in Nigeria with its many advantages, has exposed the Nigerian environment to several forms of pollution and degradation. Consequently, extensive harm has been done to the human and natural environment some of which may prove irreversible. This is largely attributable to wrongful environmental practices, sabotage activities, ineffective regulatory agencies and enforcement mechanisms. Sadly, environmental laws in the country do not specifically criminalise such inimical activities, while some grave environmental crimes are downplayed and treated as civil wrongs. This paper argues that there is a compelling need for a reassessment of environmentally harmful acts with a view to codifying and criminalising certain acts to promote the observance of basic environmental laws especially by multinational corporations and support the realisation of a sustainable environment in the country. This has become imperative as Nigeria is a subscriber to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an effective and efficient regulatory regime is a vital vehicle towards achieving these goals by the year 2030.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 18, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 10, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 10, 2020
• Deposit Date: Nov 3, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 6, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy
• Print ISSN: 2467-8406
• Electronic ISSN: 2467-8392
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 18-55
• Series ISSN: 2467-8406
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v11i1.3
• Keywords: Environment, Environmental Pollution, Environmental crime, Ecocide, SDGs
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/6827199
• Publisher URL: https://www.ogeesinstitute.edu.ng/volume-11-issue-1-2020