This document offers policy recommendation for the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in Nigeria. With examples from across the world, this paper outlines the extent to which global regulation and pollution control of the oil industry has evolved over time, largely propelled by serious accidents.
These recommendation include the separation of regulation from revenue and the introduction of a regulator which is independent from decision about revenue raising and has the ability to enforce regulations on the oil industry.
The paper argues that whilst Nigeria has extremely valuable environmental laws, the central problem lies in the enforcement of these laws and guidelines. The paper calls for a goal-setting regime, based upon collaboration reinforced by the enforcement of the approved plans of the industry itself, which would greatly enhance the prospect of cleaning up the Delta. Furthermore, the establishment of ‘best practice’ regulation is fundamental to the success of this balance, but this has to be a Nigerian ‘best practice’ – not just implanting a foreign system
Download the full report ‘Environmental regulation and pollution control in relation to reform in Nigeria.’ (pdf 11mb)
