Analysis of Some Statutory Framework on Environmental Pollution in Nigeria

Abstract

The need to conserve, promote, protect and improve human environment interrelations through ensuring pollution free terrestrial, marine, aquatic, and aerial environments in both rural and urban environments is fundamental to sustainable growth of any society in modern times. Every person or body must ensure it does not contribute to the pollution of the environment beyond what the ecosystem can absorb. Pollution is the alteration of the natural use of environmental resources as to make it lose or change its natural, biological, chemical and physical essence beyond the capacity of the environment to absorb. There are activities which are contrary to natural existence of the environment but which does not distort the composition or nature of environmental resources. To prevent destruction of environmental resources through pollution, regulation and statutes have enacted for what should be done. Statute like the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency Act 2007 as amended and regulations made thereto would be the focus of this article. It was found that environmental pollution cannot be overcome by the agencies under the extant Acts and regulations because scientific processes, techniques and equipment required to tackle pollution is yet to be made available to the Agencies responsible for environmental pollution control and abatement. It was recommended that Agencies like Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and NESREA should synergise in areas of technical assistance and pollution remediation equipment acquisition and utilisation.