Towards the Mitigation and Possible Amelioration of Coastal Pollution in Nigeria- A Review of a Legal Act (Oil in Navigable Waters Act [Cap 337] LFN 1990 [1968 No. 34.]).

Abstract

The Nigerian Coastal ecosystem is daily characterized by multifaceted explorative activities which come in company of varied and numerous challenges chief among which is Oil Spillage. Oil Spillage which could be caused by inadequate carefulness or carelessness in offloading and loading oil vessels, sabotage, unethical (unsafe) practices by operators, accidental causes, etc. has proved overtime to be the major sources of coastal pollution in Nigeria. In a bid to forestall normalcy and to restore sanity to these economically important areas by preventing, controlling and reducing the incidence of oil pollution, different legal frame works and different laws have been enacted by the Federal Government and many International Conventions have been ratified and consequently domesticated. This study critically looked into some of the laws as contained in the Oil In Navigable Waters Act [Cap 337] LFN 1990 [1968 No. 34.], geared towards the curtailing (Control and Prevention) of Oil Pollution as it affects the Nigerian Coastal System. It censoriously examined the Act and the weaknesses therein. The outcome exposed the deficiencies inherent in some of the sections and the enforcement mechanisms and these granted the operators an untoward opportunity to exploit and continually perpetuate their unsafe practices unchecked. Recommendations aimed at helping the government in making informed decisions that can ameliorate this menace of oil pollution were also proposed.