| That "oil is black gold", is a metaphor which signifies the affluence as well as the environmental hazards inherent in crude oil exploitation. With the discovery of oil in commercial quantities and subsequent drilling operations, Nigeria has seen both the economic fortune and the ecological misfortune associated with this mineral resource. Having navigated between the scylla of crude oil exploitation and the charybdis of environmental protection for decades, this thesis argues for a radical reform of Nigeria's outdated legal regime to respond positively to oil spill hazards. Further, the challenge of sustainable development has made it imperative to turn the searchlight towards international norms. This is one useful way to effectively protect and respect the environmental rights of Nigeria's oil bearing ethnic minorities. |
