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DMW/JC/63/07
COMBATING POLLUTION IN THE NIGERIA
MARITIME ENVIRONMENT
INTRODUCTION
1. The presence of enormous living and nonliving
resources in !he mari!ime environmen! gave rise !o a
num"er of economic ac!ivi!ies. These ac!ivi!ies include
oil e#plora!ion$ %shing$ coas!al !rade$ recrea!ion and
shipping. The cumula!ive e&ec! of !hese ac!ivi!ies has
resul!ed in pollu!ion such as oil spill. This !rend if lef!
unchec'ed !hrea!ens !he "ene%!s deriva"le from !he
mari!ime environmen!. (n !he la!e 1)60s$ !he s!a!e of
!he environmen! emerged as an in!erna!ional issue
arising largel* in response !o several oil spills glo"all*.
Conse+uen!l*$ !his "rough! !o fore !he a!!en!ion of
li!!oral s!a!es !o !he high levels of mari!ime pollu!ion
and !he !hrea!s !he* pose !o human heal!h and
ecological diversi!*.
1
1
(n!erna!ional ,a-$ Microsof! .ncar!a$ /006.
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/. 0igeria "eing a li!!oral s!a!e has -i!nessed rural
ur"an migra!ion from !he villages !o ur"an cen!res such
as ,agos$ 1or! 2arcour! and 3aduna. This -as largel*
due !o !he oil "oom resul!ing in !he neglec! of
agricul!ure as a source of income. The resul!an! e&ec!
is a signi%can! rise in !he level of pollu!ion in !he ur"an
cen!res. This rise in pollu!ion s!ems from an upsurge in
!he level of ur"anisa!ion$ indus!rialisa!ion and o!her
ac!ivi!ies rela!ed !o !he oil "oom.
3. 4ome sources of pollu!ion in !he ur"an cen!res
include human -as!e$ refuse$ gas 5aring$ pipeline
vandalisa!ion$ oil spillage and un!rea!ed indus!rial
-as!e. 6rom 1))7 !o /00/$ over /000 cases of crude oil
spillage -as repor!ed in !he 0iger Del!a area alone.
This resul!ed in !he discharge of a"ou! / million "arrels
of oil in!o !he ecos*s!em.
/
(n 1))8$ 90$000 "arrels of
crude oil -as spilled from !he Mo"il pla!forms a! (do'o
in :'-a("om s!a!e.
3
9. Conse+uen!l*$ 0igeria made progress in cur"ing
!his !rend "* se!!ing up !he 6ederal .nvironmen!al
2
Sontag RJ, Protecting the Environment in OIL and Gas Exploration and Production, Business
opportunities, April !!"
3
#ax$ell I#A, Preservation o% #arine Resources, A%rica &oda', April ())*"
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:genc* ;6.1:< in 1)88 !o address !he pro"lem of oil
pollu!ion$ deser!i%ca!ion$ and land degrada!ion. (n
1))/$ 6.1:=s scope -as increased !o cover na!ural
resources. This is in line -i!h 0igeria "eing a signa!or*
!o !rea!ies and par!* !o conven!ions aimed a!
com"a!ing environmen!al pollu!ion and ensuring safe!*
of !he populace. The 0igerian >overnmen! also made /
per cen! of her annual "udge! availa"le !o !he
.cological fund. The e&or!s of !he >overnmen! !o %gh!
pollu!ion have "een par!l* successful. This is eviden! in
!he mon!hl* sani!a!ion e#ercise conduc!ed around !he
coun!r*.
7. 4u"s!an!ial cons!rain!s e#is! in !he e&ec!ive
implemen!a!ion of di&eren! legisla!ions and polic*
documen!s on environmen!al issues. These cons!rain!s
include uncoordina!ed policies and legisla!ions$ -ea'
da!a"ase$ inade+ua!e enforcemen! of an!i pollu!ion
la-s "* relevan! agencies$ inade+ua!e e+uipmen!s$ and
!echnolog* !o com"a! pollu!ion. ?!hers include
(ns!i!u!ional con5ic!s$ inade+ua!e and un!imel* funding$
and lac' of pu"lic a-areness amongs! o!hers. (! is
agains! !his "ac'drop !ha! !his paper see's !o address
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!he issues associa!ed -i!h com"a!ing pollu!ion in
0igeria=s mari!ime environmen!.
6. The purpose of !his paper !herefore is !o anal*se
!he valua"le means of com"a!ing pollu!ion in 0igeria=s
mari!ime environmen!. The paper -ill cover 0igeria=s
mari!ime environmen!$ sources of mari!ime pollu!ion
and !he !hrea! of pollu!ion !o 0igeria=s mari!ime
environmen! economic po!en!ials. The paper -ill also
consider measures !o com"a! pollu!ion in 0igeria=s
mari!ime environmen! and s!ra!egies for com"a!ing
pollu!ion in !he mari!ime environmen!. This paper -ill
ho-ever "e limi!ed !o !he mari!ime environmen! -i!hin
!he 0igerDel!a area.
AIM
7. The aim of !his paper is !o e#amine !he 6ederal
>overnmen!s e&or!s in com"a!ing pollu!ion in 0igeria=s
mari!ime environmen! -i!h a vie- !o ma'ing
recommenda!ions.
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NIGERIAS MARITIME ENVIRONMENT
8. 0igeria has a mari!ime environmen! of a"ou!
89$000 s+uare nau!ical miles. This coas!line s!re!ches
from longi!ude 0/
0
97=. !o longi!ude 08
0
37=.$ -i!h
a leng!h of 9/0nm and /00nm ..@.
9
0igeria=s
mari!ime area could "e descri"ed as a d*namic
s!orehouse of living and nonliving resources. :"ou! /0
per cen! of !he es!ima!ed 100 million popula!ion$ as
-ell as mos! of !he economic ac!ivi!ies in 0igeria are
loca!ed in !he mari!ime s!a!es.
7
4ome mari!ime
economic ac!ivi!ies in !he area include shipping$ %shing$
recrea!ion$ shrimping$ harnessing of energ*$ and oil and
gas e#plora!ion amongs! o!hers. : map of 0igeria=s
mari!ime environmen! is a! :nne# :.
). The oil and gas sec!or con!ri"u!es a"ou! )0 per
cen! of !he na!ion=s foreign e#change earnings and
accoun!s for a"ou! 80 per cen! of 0igeria=s >ross
Domes!ic 1roduc! ;>D1<.
6
,i'e -ise$ !he "ul' of
0igeria=s impor! and e#por! cargoes are !ranspor!ed "*
4
OT Badejo and PPC Nwilo, Management of Oil Sill Di!e"!al along t#e Nige"ian Coa!tal $"ea!, 2%%4&
'
D()lin*+"een et al, 1,,-&
.
Cen!ral Aan' of 0igeria$ :nnual Bepor! /009$ p.3
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sea. 0igeria has inves!men!s -or!h over 10 "illion C4
dollars in !he pe!roleum sec!or -i!hin her ..@.
7

10. The 0iger Del!a is one of !he larges! del!as in !he
-orld and !he !hird larges! in :frica.
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This large e#panse
of -e!lands covers a"ou! 70$000 s+uare 'ilome!res and
ma'es up 7.7 per cen! of 0igeria=s land mass. (!
includes land in :"ia 4!a!e$ :'-a("om 4!a!e$ :nam"ra
4!a!e$ Aa*elsa 4!a!e$ Cross Biver 4!a!e$ Del!a 4!a!e$ .do
4!a!e$ (mo 4!a!e and Bivers 4!a!e. 0iger Del!a houses
mos! valua"le rene-a"le and nonrene-a"le na!ural
resources.
)
Cnsus!aina"le e#ploi!a!ion and
environmen!al degrada!ion are increasingl* impairing
!he na!ural resource "ase on -hich !he rural
communi!ies depend.
11. The 0igerian econom* is heavil* dependen! on
crude oil sales and o!her marine economic ac!ivi!ies of
-hich !he 0iger Del!a accoun!s for a"ou! 77 per cen! of
!he sales.
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Cncon!rolled e#ploi!a!ion and e#cessive
!echnological in5uences have resul!ed in !he
degrada!ion and pollu!ion of !he mari!ime environmen!
-
("id$ p.7
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0i1iedia en232loedia$ www& wi1iedia&o"g4wi1i4Nige"5Delta&
,
I)id
1%
6tt7 44www&0i1iedia&o"g4wi1i4Nige"5Delta
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especiall* in !he 0iger Del!a. These ac!ivi!ies are no-
!hrea!ening !he survival of mos! of !he living marine
resources and !he "ene%!s !hereof. The need !o pro!ec!
and 'eep !he mari!ime environmen! clean is impera!ive
for full "ene%!s !o man and marine life. (! is !herefore
impera!ive for !he 6ederal >overnmen! !o adop!
measures !ha! -ould pro!ec! and 'eep !he mari!ime
environmen! from pollu!ion.
SOURCES OF MARITIME POLLUTION
1/. :! all levels of produc!ion$ goods$ and services
come -i!h -as!es as "* produc!s. These "* produc!s
-hen no! properl* disposed "ecome pollu!an!s.
1ollu!ion s!ems from di&eren! sources depending on !he
!*pe of ac!ivi!* going on in !he environmen!. (n !he
0iger Del!a$ !he maDor sources of pollu!ion are
indus!ries$ shipping ac!ivi!ies$ agricul!ural runo&$
ur"anisa!ion$ oil and gas e#plora!ion and e#ploi!a!ion
Dus! !o men!ion a fe-.
INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION
13. The e#plora!ion of !he 0iger Del!a encourages
coas!al indus!rialisa!ion for manufac!ure of secondar*
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produc!s. There e#is! gian! indus!ries$ pe!rol chemical
and fer!iliser plan!s. The -as!e and eEuen!s from !hese
indus!ries are released in!o cree's and drainages !here
"* pollu!ing !he environmen!. Thermal discharges
associa!ed -i!h !he produc!ion process also a&ec! !he
!hermal "alance in !he ecos*s!em.
19. (n 1)88$ acciden!al discharge of -as!e-a!er
con!aining high level of ammonia in!o ?'iri'a Biver in
Bivers 4!a!e "* 0a!ional 6er!iliser Compan* of 0igeria
;0:6C?0< caused loss of a+ua!ic life and damage !o
social life of !he people in !he area.
11
The e&ec! of
indus!rial pollu!ion is adverse !o human and a+ua!ic
life. 2ence$ !he need for indus!ries !o "e made !o
conform !o in!erna!ional regula!ions on allo-ed levels
of discharge of eEuen!s !o -a!er "odies.
SHIPPING POLLUTION
17. 0igeria has an ac!ive shipping indus!r* due !o her
impor! dependen! econom*$ oil and gas e#plora!ion and
e#ploi!a!ion ac!ivi!ies. Bou!ine pollu!ion arising from
mari!ime !raFc is usuall* associa!ed -i!h !an' cleaning
11
Peter + ,$ilo and Olusegun & Bade-o, Impact and #anagement o% Oil Spill Pollution along the
,igerian +oast Areas, !!."
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of large oil carriers.
1/
These ships discharge !heir "allas!
-a!er$ -hich con!ain animals or plan!s !ha! acciden!all*
hi!chhi'e along causing !heir in!roduc!ion in!o 0igeria=s
mari!ime environmen!.
16. 4ome of !hese organisms ei!her cause pro"lems in
-a!er-a*s or have compe!i!ive advan!age over local
fauna leading !o undesira"le shif! and changes in
communi!* s!ruc!ures. The -a!er h*acin!hs !ha!
presen!l* "loc' -a!er-a*s in 0igerian mari!ime
environmen! is an e#ample. The ships also dump oil
-as!e$ gar"age and se-age in!o !he -a!ers$ -hich is a
maDor source of pollu!ion !o coas!al -a!ers. The 6ederal
>overnmen! could e+uip 0igerian Mari!ime
:dminis!ra!ion and 4afe!* :genc* ;0(M:4:< -i!h
modern and sophis!ica!ed pa!rol "oa!s !ha! can "e used
!o enforce all local legisla!ion on pollu!ion.
AGRICULTURAL RUN-OFF
17. The food demand of 0igeria=s !eeming popula!ion
has necessi!a!ed !he in!ensi%ca!ion of agricul!ural
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Sandra /lo%% and +live 0ic1s, Environmental management o% o%%shore oil development and maritime
oil transport, !!2"
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ac!ivi!ies. 6armers use fer!ilisers$ pes!icides and
her"icides$ -hich are collec!ed "* rain-a!er and
-ashed in!o rivers$ s!reams and oceans. The* have !he
po!en!ial pro"lems of "eing residues !o !he ecos*s!em
and impac! on non!arge! organisms in !he mari!ime
environmen!. These !end !o al!er !he na!ural s!a!e of
a+ua!ic life in !he sea.
18. These chemical compounds do no! decompose and
"ecome !o#ic$ persis! longer in !he mari!ime
environmen! and cause damage !o !he a+ua!ic
resources -i!hin. Therefore$ !he 6ederal Minis!r* of
:gricul!ure need !o educa!e farmers on !he adverse
e&ec! of using her"icides$ pes!icides and fer!ilisers.
6ur!hermore$ farmers could "e encouraged !o use a
mi#!ure of fermen!ed -eed and animal -as!e as
manure !o enrich !heir farmland.
URBANISATION
1). The seemingl* unending ruralur"an drif! has made
maDor ci!ies especiall* coas!al ones !o e#perience
increase in popula!ion. The "igges! pro"lem !his
ur"anisa!ion and large popula!ion could face is disposal
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of human and solid -as!e. (! is es!ima!ed !ha! 130170
li!res per person per da* of -ashing -a!er and 70 li!res
per person per da* of faeces is genera!ed in ur"an area
and discharged in!o !he sea un!rea!ed. The disposal of
un!rea!ed se-age in!o -a!er "odies resul!s in o#*gen
deple!ion$ in!roduc!ion of pa!hogenic organism in!o !he
sea. This causes diseases li'e diarrhoea$ cholera$
!*phoid$ and d*sen!er* amongs! o!hers.
/0. 4olid -as!es in !he form of -a!er sache!s$ -as!e
paper and di&eren! forms of pac'aging of fas! food$ and
so on are !hro-n in!o !he sea. These solid -as!es do
no! "rea' do-n easil* and ma* persis! for man* *ears
even decades. These ma'e !he -a!er-a*s dir!* and
!he living organism can "e en!angled !herein. 2ence$
!he in!roduc!ion of domes!ic and solid -as!e in!o
mari!ime environmen! is haGardous. The 6ederal
>overnmen! could pu! in place ade+ua!e ph*sical and
land use plan !o com"a! !he pollu!ion due !o
ur"anisa!ion.
OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION
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/1. (nciden!s of oil pollu!ion in 0iger Del!a have usuall*
resul!ed in grave ecological and socioeconomical
conse+uences. Ae!-een 1)76 and 1))8 alone$ a"ou!
77/9 inciden!s resul!ed in !he spill of appro#ima!el* /.7
million "arrels of crude oil in!o !he environmen!.
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The
fragile mari!ime environmen! !ha! har"ours man* oil
and gas ins!alla!ions is su"Dec! !o opera!ional spills from
e#plora!ion opera!ions$ pipeline vandalisa!ion and
illegal "un'ering$ -hich e#poses !he inha"i!an!s !o
heal!h and economic haGards. :nne# A sho-s !he
num"er and volume of oil spilled in 0igeria "e!-een
1)76 and 1))8.
//. Mos! of !hese ac!ivi!ies are descri"ed as necessar*
and direc!ed !o-ards mee!ing 0igeria=s energ*$
ma!erial and o!her needs. The 0igerian governmen!
has over !he *ears pu! in place s!ruc!ures aimed a!
com"a!ing pollu!ion especiall* mari!ime rela!ed
pollu!an!s. 4ince various forms of pollu!an!s e#is! in our
-a!er source$ e&or!s could "e direc!ed !o-ards
prevailing pollu!an!s li'e oil spills$ solid -as!es$ ra!her
!han a fe- !*pes from degrading !he environmen!. The
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3r P+ ,$ilo 4 O& Bade-o, Impacts o% Oil Spills Along the ,igerian +oast, !!("
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real po!en!ial of !he mari!ime environmen! -ould !hen
"e reaped -hen pollu!ion is e&ec!ivel* com"a!ed.

THREATS OF POLLUTION TO NIGERIAS MARITIME
ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC POTENTIAL
/3. 1ollu!ion is a serious pro"lem facing 0igeria=s
mari!ime environmen! and !he !hrea! i! pose !o !he
s!a!e of !he living resources !herein. These e&ec!s have
i!s !oll on !he economic po!en!ial of !he mari!ime
environmen! due !o reduc!ion in e#pec!ed re!urns on
inves!men!$ living and nonliving resources. The heal!h
of inha"i!an!s of !he mari!ime environmen! is
vulnera"le !o e&ec!s of pollu!an!s. ?ver !he *ears$ !he
ocean has "een a cheap -a* of disposing -as!e
ma!erials -i!h high cos! of cleaning up !ha! is "orne "*
!he 6ederal >overnmen!.
/9. 4ome of !hese -as!e ma!erials are !o#ic and
harmful !o a+ua!ic organism and could cause dea!h of
!he organism or ma* render !hem un%! for human
consump!ion. (! could also cause "ir!h defec!s and
cancer amongs! inha"i!an!s of !he 0iger Del!a area.
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,eacha!es from solid -as!e dumps could con!amina!e
ground -a!er !here"* ma'ing inha"i!an!s search for
al!erna!ive sources. This lead !o increase in living cos!
of !he people and economic loss !o !he communi!*.
/7. The -as!e from ur"anisa!ion and agricul!ural run
o& fer!ilise !he sea and increases produc!ivi!* of !he
a+ua!ic organisms. .#cessive nu!rien!s could cause
unna!ural and uncon!rolled gro-!h of some species a!
!he e#pense of o!hers and !here"* reducing
"iodiversi!*. 4e-age is organic in na!ure and so su"Dec!
!o "ac!eria deca*. The "ac!eria ac!ivi!* causes
reduc!ion in o#*gen concen!ra!ion in -a!er "odies
causing s!arving of o#*gen !o a+ua!ic life. This could
cause "rea'do-n of pro!eins and o!her ni!rogenous
compounds !here"* releasing h*drogen sulphide and
ammonia !o !he sea$ -hich is !o#ic !o marine organism
in lo- concen!ra!ion. This leads !o reduc!ion in !he %sh
availa"le for harves!ing and !hus reducing !he po!en!ial
income !hereof.
/6. The oil and gas indus!r* a&ec!s people and !he
environmen! in !hree -a*s$ clima!e change$ opera!ions
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on land and a! sea and posi!ive or nega!ive in5uences
on na!ional economies. ?il 'ills plan!s and animals in
!he es!uarine Gone. ?il se!!les on "eaches and 'ills
organisms !ha! live !hereinH i! also se!!les on !he ocean
5oor and 'ills "o!!omd-elling organisms such as cra"s.
/7. ?il poisons algae$ disrup!s maDor food chains and
decreases !he *ield of edi"le crus!aceans. (! also coa!s
marine d-elling "irds$ impairing !heir 5igh! or reducing
!he insula!ive proper!* of !heir fea!hers$ !hus ma'ing
!he "irds more vulnera"le !o cold. ?il endangers %sh
ha!cheries in coas!al -a!ers and as -ell con!amina!es
!he 5esh of commerciall* valua"le %sh. >as 5aring is of
grea! economic loss and i! causes increased
!empera!ure of !he environmen!$ acid rain$ releases
C?/$ C? and car"on par!icles in!o !he environmen!.
/8. The high cos! of clean up and gas ga!hering
preven!s oil companies from appl*ing cos!l* and
modern !echnologies in reducing gas 5aring and oil spill
clean up. This e#poses !he inha"i!an!s !o environmen!al
heal!h and economic haGards. The vege!a!ion usuall*
has o#*gen suppl* !o !he roo! !issues$ causing
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s!agna!ion in gro-!h and less frui! *ield. >ases 5aring
"* !he oil companies and !hermal po-er genera!ing
s!a!ions have increased !he !empera!ure of !he
environmen! and caused acid rain$ -hich des!ro*s
roof!ops$ a+ua!ic life and !he vege!a!ion.
/). The nega!ive e&ec!s of 1ollu!ion on !he ecos*s!ems
of mari!ime environmen! could "e harmful !o "iological
processes and !hus could decrease "iodiversi!*. The
dea!h of !he living resources in !he area causes
economic loss !o %shermen$ !he econom* and !he
environmen! !ha! could no! replenish herself.
1reven!ion !herefore$ -ould "e a much more e&ec!ive
and less cos!l* means of dealing -i!h pollu!ion !han
cleaning i! up or su&ering !he conse+uences !hereof.
The 6ederal >overnmen! !herefore needs !o moni!or !he
e&ec! of pollu!ion on marine organisms in order !o
chec' !he pollu!an!s.
MEASURES TO COMBAT POLLUTION IN NIGERIAS
MARITIME ENVIRONMENT
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30. The managemen! issue remains ho- !o preserve
and main!ain !he mari!ime environmen! as a via"le
medium for living a+ua!ic resources$ as -ell as
reducing heal!h haGards due !o pollu!ion. The
preven!ion of fu!ure environmen!al con!amina!ion
-ould sus!ain !he repair !o pas! pollu!ion e&ec!s. The
a!!ainmen! of !his o"Dec!ive re+uires inpu! of more
resources !han i! is presen!l* giving.
GLOBAL POLLUTION CONTROL
31. The occurrence of man* environmen!al !ragedies
in !he mid!-en!ie!h cen!ur*$ led man* na!ions !o
ins!i!u!e comprehensive regula!ions designed !o repair
!he pas! damage of uncon!rolled pollu!ion.
19
The
(n!erna!ional Mari!ime ?rganisa!ion ;(M?< a specialised
agenc* of !he C0 "od* "ased in Ari!ain -as es!a"lished
in 1)98 and charged -i!h mari!ime safe!*$ pollu!ion
preven!ion and con!rol.
3/. (M? has 167 mem"er coun!ries and enforces !hese
mem"ers !o ra!if* and implemen! !rea!ies and
conven!ions aimed a! achieving clean and pollu!ion free
14
Pollution, #icroso%t Student 353, !!6"
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mari!ime environmen!. (n!erna!ional conven!ions are
"inding on na!ional governmen!s$ -hich are o"liged !o
implemen! !he in!erna!ionall* es!a"lished rules and
regula!ions !hrough !heir o-n na!ional legisla!ion.
0igeria is a mem"er of (M? and signa!or* !o her
!rea!ies and conven!ions. :nne# C con!ains !rea!ies and
conven!ions on mari!ime environmen! !ha! 0igeria is a
signa!or*.
33. Curren!l*$ !he "ul' of in!erna!ional regula!ions for
mari!ime pollu!ion are con!ained in !he 1)73
(n!erna!ional Conven!ion for !he preven!ion of 1ollu!ion
from ships. :mended in 1)78 and !hereaf!ercalled
M:B1?, 73/78. (! con!ains regula!ions for discharge
from vessels of an* !*pe opera!ing in !he mari!ime
environmen!$ including 5oa!ing craf! and %#ed or
5oa!ing pla!forms. M:B1?, 73/78 incorpora!es !he
?(,1?, conven!ion of 1)79 and i!s various
amendmen!s.
17

1'
Sand"a 8loff and Cli9e 0i21!, Environmental #anagement o% O%%shore Oil 3evelopment and
#aritime Oil &ransport, O2to)e" 2%%4&
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39. The Cni!ed 0a!ions Conven!ion on !he ,a- of !he
4ea$ 1)78 ;C0C,?4< ar!icle /7 provides s!a!es -i!h an
in!erna!ional legal "asis for por! s!a!e con!rol. 4!a!es
are allo-ed !o !a'e necessar* s!eps !o preven! an*
"reach of condi!ions !o -hich !he call of an* vessels a!
i!s por!s ma* "e su"Dec!. :r!icles /16 and /18 ena"le a
li!!oral s!a!e !o enforce in!erna!ional an!idumping and
an!ipollu!ion measures$ -i!h ar!icle /1) giving s!a!es
po-er !o !a'e measures !o preven! erran! vessels from
leaving por!.
37. (n!erna!ional regula!ions on pollu!ion con!rol are
no! glo"al due !o some coun!ries no! signing !he
!rea!ies and conven!ions. This crea!es pro"lems -i!h
o"servance of !hese regula!ions. Therefore$ C0 needs
!o persuade nonsigna!ories !o !hese in!erna!ional
!rea!ies and conven!ions so !ha! !he desired aim -ould
"e derived. (n !he same vein$ coun!ries li'e 0igeria !ha!
are signa!ories need !o enac! na!ional la-s in order !o
implemen! !he !rea!ies and conven!ions.
NATIONAL POLLUTION CONTROL
RESTRICTED
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RESTRICTED
36. The 0igerian >overnmen! has made several e&or!s
over !he *ears in com"a!ing mari!ime pollu!ion "*
formula!ion of la-s and !he es!a"lishmen! of an!i
pollu!ion agencies. : num"er of 6ederal and 4!a!e
agencies -ere es!a"lished !o com"a! mari!ime pollu!ion
in 0igeria. These agencies include !he Depar!men! of
1e!roleum Besources ;D1B<$ !he 6ederal Minis!r* of
.nvironmen!$ 6.1:$ 0(M:4: and s!a!e Minis!ries of
.nvironmen!. 4everal la-s and policies have "een
made in managing oil spill inciden!s a! !he na!ional
levels.
37. 4e+uel !o !he dumping of !o#ic -as!e in 'o'o del!a
4!a!e in 1)88$ !he 6ederal >overnmen! es!a"lished
6.1: under Decree 78 of 1)88.
16
The agenc* is
responsi"le for pro!ec!ion of all 0igeria=s environmen!.
The ?il 1ollu!ion :c! of 1))0 ;?1: 1))0< is
responsi"le for man* of !he na!ionIs improvemen!s in
oil spill preven!ion and response. ?1: 1))0 provides
guidance for governmen! and indus!r* on oil spill
preven!ion$ mi!iga!ion$ cleanup and lia"ili!*. The
maDori!* of ?1: 1))0 provisions -ere !arge!ed a!
1.
Nige"ia, Mi2"o!oft St(dent D:D 2%%-&
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reducing !he num"er of spills follo-ed "* reducing !he
+uan!i!* of oil spilled.
38. The .nvironmen!al (mpac! :ssessmen! ;.(:<
decree 0o 86 of 1))/ -as promulga!ed !o pro!ec!
and sus!ain 0igeria=s ecos*s!em. The la- ma'es .(:
compulsor* for an* maDor proDec! !ha! ma* have
adverse e&ec!s on !he environmen!.
17
The Decree -as
!o con!rol ac!ivi!ies !ha! have environmen!al impac! on
!he hos! communi!ies$ facili!a!es !he promo!ion and
implemen!a!ion of polic*$ encourage informa!ion
e#change. : lis! of 0igeria=s legisla!ions on
environmen!al pro!ec!ion is a! :nne# D.
3). Due !o !he increasing a-areness in preven!ing and
con!rolling oil spills in 0igeria$ Clean 0igeria :ssocia!es
;C0:< -as formed in 0ovem"er 1)81. The C0: is a
consor!ium of eleven oil companies opera!ing in
0igeria$ including 0igerian 0a!ional 1e!roleum
Copora!ion. The primar* purpose of es!a"lishing !he
C0: is !o main!ain a capa"ili!* !o com"a! spills of li+uid
h*drocar"ons or pollu!an!s in general.
1-
I7id (
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RESTRICTED
90. The 0igerian 4a! 1 an ?r"i! 4a!elli!e for
geographical mapping launched "* !he 6ederal
>overnmen! in /006$ -ould help !o chec' !he perennial
pro"lem of oil pipeline vandalisa!ion. (! -ould also
assis! in moni!oring !he spread of oil spill and managing
mari!ime pollu!ion. The informa!ion from !he sa!elli!e
are vi!al for +uic' clean up of pollu!ed areas.
91. The preven!ion of mari!ime pollu!ion is !he
responsi"ili!* of all governmen! agencies. The
enforcemen! of e#is!ing regula!ions and la-s -ill go a
long -a* in achieving !his aim. 2o-ever$ !he non
enac!men! of some in!erna!ional conven!ions has
reduced !he eFcac* of !hese agencies coupled -i!h
lac' of funds and e+uipmen!. The 6ederal >overnmen!
!herefore needs !o e+uip$ increase !he funding !o !he
agencies and ensure enac!men! of appropria!e
an!ipollu!ion legisla!ion as soon as possi"le.
STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING POLLUTION IN
NIGERIAS MARITIME ENVIRONMENT
RESTRICTED
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RESTRICTED
9/. 1reven!ion is "e!!er !han cure !herefore !he "es!
s!ra!eg* for com"a!ing pollu!ion is preven!ion. The
6ederal >overnmen! needs !o ensure ade+ua!e annual
"udge!ar* provision for polic* formula!ion and
implemen!a!ion of !he 0a!ional 1olic* on .nvironmen!.
:lso >overnmen! could e&ec!ivel* chec' !he menace of
pollu!ion in !he mari!ime environmen! "* enforcing
e#is!ing legisla!ion and regula!ions rela!ing !o pollu!ion.
93. (n order !o realiGe !he o"Dec!ives of enac!ed
legisla!ions on mari!ime pollu!ion$ re+uisi!e
enforcemen! agencies mus! "e pu! empo-ered. The
0igerian 0av* ;00< and 0(M:4: need !o "e "e!!er
e+uipped$ !rained and funded !o carr* ou! enforcemen!
and surveillance du!ies agains! pollu!ion ac!ivi!ies "*
miscrean!s. (f !his is no! done$ !he legisla!ion -ould "e
Dus! on paper.
99. The >overnmen! could !a'e full advan!age of
"ila!eral and mul!ila!eral !echnical and %nancial
assis!ance in environmen!al pro!ec!ion. The* need !o
ensure ma#imum "ene%!s from !he %nancial
mechanisms for !he implemen!a!ion of !he
Conven!ionsand 1ro!ocols ra!i%ed "* 0igeria.
RESTRICTED
23
RESTRICTED
97. The 6ederal >overnmen! needs !o in!ensif* pu"lic
enligh!enmen! campaigns a! all levels "* se!!ing up
forums for !he educa!ion of !he main users of !he
mari!ime environmen! on !he haGards of pollu!ion. The
"ene%!s of an a!!i!udinal change$ adop!ing e&ec!ive
!echnolog* for eFcien! energ* use and increased cos!
"ene%! is priceless. >overnmen! could also crea!e a
6und for 6.1: and 0(M:4: !o adminis!er for rapid
response !o indus!rial acciden!s -i!h signi%can! adverse
environmen!al impac!.
96. :no!her means of preven!ing pollu!ion is !he
implemen!a!ion of an eFcien! gar"age disposal
s*s!em. .s!a"lish (ndus!ries for rec*cling of various
ma!erials li'e plas!ic !ha! end up in !he mari!ime
environmen! as pollu!an!s -ould grea!l* reduce
pollu!ion in !he mari!ime environmen!. (n addi!ion$
pollu!ion -ould also "e preven!ed "* !he !rea!men! of
!o#ic eEuen!s from indus!ries ma'ing !hem non!o#ic
"efore release in!o !he drains.
97. .mphasis on !he es!a"lishmen! of lia"ili!*
provisions and compensa!ion for damages in !he even!
of mari!ime pollu!ion inciden!s are ver* impor!an!. :ll
RESTRICTED
24
RESTRICTED
!he s!ra!egies have a singular aim$ preven!ion of !he
occurrence of mari!ime pollu!ion. (f !his -ere achieved$
!he full economic po!en!ial of !his environmen! -ould
"e derived. Therefore$ !he >overnmen! need !o adop!
!hese s!ra!egies !o achieve a pollu!ion free mari!ime
environmen!.
CONCLUSION
98. The need !o pro!ec! and 'eep !he mari!ime
environmen! clean is impera!ive for full "ene%!s !o man
and marine life. (! is !herefore impera!ive for !he
6ederal >overnmen! !o adop! measures !ha! -ould
pro!ec! and 'eep !he mari!ime environmen! from
pollu!ion ;paragraph 811<.
9). 4ince various forms of pollu!an!s e#is! in our -a!er
source$ e&or!s could "e direc!ed !o-ards prevailing
pollu!an!s li'e oil spills$ solid -as!es$ ra!her !han a fe-
!*pes. The real po!en!ial of !he mari!ime environmen!
-ould !hen "e reaped -hen pollu!ion is e&ec!ivel*
com"a!ed ;paragraph //<.
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RESTRICTED
70. 1reven!ion !herefore$ -ould "e a much more
e&ec!ive and less cos!l* means of dealing -i!h pollu!ion
!han cleaning i! up or su&ering !he conse+uences
!hereof. The 6ederal >overnmen! !herefore needs !o
moni!or !he e&ec! of pollu!ion on marine organisms in
order !o chec' !he pollu!an!s ;paragraph /3/)<.
71. The C0 needs !o persuade nonsigna!ories !o !hese
in!erna!ional !rea!ies and conven!ions so !ha! !he
desired aim -ould "e derived. (n !he same vein$
coun!ries li'e 0igeria !ha! are signa!ories need !o enac!
na!ional la-s in order !o implemen! !he !rea!ies and
conven!ions ;paragraph 3137<.
7/. The nonenac!men! of some in!erna!ional
conven!ions has reduced !he eFcac* of !hese agencies
coupled -i!h lac' of funds and e+uipmen!. The 6ederal
>overnmen! !herefore needs !o e+uip$ increase !he
funding !o !he agencies and ensure enac!men! of
appropria!e pollu!ion legisla!ion as soon as possi"le
;paragraph 3691<.
73. :ll !he s!ra!egies have a singular aim$ preven!ion
of !he occurrence of mari!ime pollu!ion. (f !his -ere
achieved$ !he full economic po!en!ial of !his
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environmen! -ould "e derived. Therefore$ !he
>overnmen! need !o adop! !hese s!ra!egies !o achieve
a pollu!ion free mari!ime environmen! ;paragraph
9/97<.
RECOMMENDATIONS
79. (! is recommended !ha! !he 6ederal >overnmen!
shouldJ
a. (ncrease concer!ed e&or!s !o-ards pro!ec!ion and
con!rol of mari!ime pollu!ion ;paragraph 98<.
". Direc! e&or!s !o-ards com"a!ing all prevailing
marine pollu!an!s ra!her !han a fe- !*pes ;paragraph
9)<.
c. .nac! all in!erna!ional conven!ions and !rea!ies
she is a signa!or* !o ;paragraph 7/<.
d. .+uip and increase !he funding !o her an!i
pollu!ion agencies ;paragraph 7/<.
RESTRICTED
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O B ANIMASAHUN
Jaji-Kadua L!
Ma" #$ S!ud%!
:nne#esJ
:. : Map of 0igeria=s Mari!ime .nvironmen!.
A. ?il 4pill Da!a in 0igeria "e!-een 1)76 and 1)88.
C. Trea!ies and Conven!ions on Mari!ime .nvironmen!
!ha! 0igeria is a 4igna!or*.
D. 4ome ?f !he :c!s and Begula!ions on 1ollu!ion in
0igeria.
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