REMEDIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION UNDER THE NIGERIAN LAWS

ABSTRACT

Environmental pollution of different kind has caused significant damage to the health, wealth and safely of the people in Nigeria and the global community. There has been a concerted effort, by the global community in general and the Nigeria government in particular on how to reduce the debilitating effect of environmental pollution. In lien of this, various legislations have been put in place to regulate man’s activities and how it relates to the environment. This work seeks to examine the array of legislation that provide for various Remedies of environmental pollution in Nigeria. The study also further to investigates the mechanism for enforcement of claims by the victims of pollution in Nigeria. A critical analysis of the adequacy or otherwise of these laws is also done in this research work adopts a doctrinal research methodology and sources of information relied on include; textbooks, article in journal publication, newspaper articles, case laws and internet materials. Recommendation on how to makes improvement and the extent laws are also made.    

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Page

Title Page        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —                    i

Declaration      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —                   ii

Certification                —          —          —          —          —          —          —                  iii

Dedication      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —                  iv

Acknowledgement —  —          —          —          —          —          —          —               v-vi

Abstract          —-       —          —          —          —          —          —          —                 vii

Table of Contents —                —          —          —          —          —          —                viii

Table of Cases             —          —          —          —          —          —          —          xii-xiii

Table of Statutes         —          —          —          —          —          —          —          xiv-xv

Abbreviation   —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —                xvi

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1    Historical Background   —          —          —          —          —          —          —    i-ii

1.2       Statement of Research Problem         —          —          —          –12-13           

1.3    Scope of Research         —          —          —          —          —          –14-15           

1.4    Objective of Research    —          —          —          —          —          —          —     15

1.5    Research Methodology  —          —          —          —          —          —          –15-16

1.6    Literature Review       –          —          —          —          —          –16-20           

1.7    Justification        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     21

1.8    Organizational Layout —            —          —          —          —          —          –21-22

CHAPTER TWO: CRIMINAL REMEDIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION UNDER THE NIGERIAN LAWS 

2.1       Introduction    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     23

2.2       Legal Framework for Criminal Remedies          —          —          –23-29

2.3       Fines    —          —           —          —          —          —          —          –29-30

2.4       Term of Imprisonment           —          —          —          —          –31-33           

2.5       Forfeiture        —             —          —          —          —          –33-35           

2.6       Constraints to Impositions of Criminal Remedies –  —          –35-36

CHAPTER THREE: CIVIL REMEDIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION UNDER THE NIGERIAN LAWS 

3.1       Introduction    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     37

3.2       Compensation —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     38

3.2.1    Constitutional Provisions for Compensation —          —          —     39

 3.2.2   Oil Pipeline Act       —          —          —          —          —          –39-45           

3.2.3    Petroleum Act —          —          —          —          —          —          —          –46-47

3.2.4    Nigerian Minerals Mining Act, 2007           —          —          –47-49

3.2.5    Rio Declaration vis-à-vis NESREA Act         —          —          —          –49-50

3.2.5.1 Quantum of Compensation  —          —          —          —          –50-52

3.3       Damages         —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     53

3.3.1    Legal Framework for Remedy of Damages      —          —          –54-59

3.3.2    Types of Damages      —          —          —          —          —          —          —     60

3.3.2.1      Special Damages    —          —          —          —          —          —          –60-63

3.3.3         General Damages               —          —          —          —          —          —     63

3.3.4         Difference between Special and General Damages    —  –     64

3.3.5         Grounds for Award of Damages               —          —          —          —     64

3.3.5.1      Loss of Property and means of livelihood             —          —     65

3.3.5.2      Damages for Emotional Distress —   —          —          –65-68

3.4            Injunction    —          —          —          —          —          —          –68-70           

3.5       Restoration/Rehabilitation  —          —          —          —          –70-73

3.6       Resettlement   —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     73

CHAPTER FOUR: MECHANISMS FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS

4.1       Introduction    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     74

4.2       Litigation        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     75

4.2.1    Factors Militating Against Environmental Litigations —      –     76

4.2.1.1      Delays in Prosecution of Cases      —          —          —          —          —     76

4.2.1.2      Courts Attitude to Victims Claim  —          —          —          —          —     79

4.2.1.3      Corruption in judiciary —    —          —          —       —          —     80

4.2.1.4      Burden and Standards of Proof   —          —          —          –81-87

4.3            Negotiation —          —          —          —          —          —          —          –87-89

4.4            Mediation   —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     90

4.5            Conciliation            —          —          —          —          —          —          —     90

4.6            Arbitration —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     91

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Summary         —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     95

5.2       Conclusion                  —          —          —          —          —          —          –95-99

5.3       Recommendations      —          —          —          —          —          —          —     99

5.3.1    Need for Express Constitutional Provision on Pollution —    —          —