THE IMPACT OF OIL SPILLS ON FOOD SECURITY: ADDRESSING NIGERIA’S LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Abstract

Oil pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta, where crude oil exploration and production have led to widespread land and water contamination. This environmental degradation has had severe socio-economic consequences, particularly in food security. Farmers and fishermen, who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods, face declining yields, soil infertility, and the destruction of aquatic habitats due to frequent oil spills. The pollution of water bodies and farmlands has resulted in reduced agricultural productivity, increased food prices, and heightened economic hardship for affected communities. The paper adopts doctrinal method of legal research in examining the existing legal and institutional framework for control of oil spillage in Nigeria. The paper finds that despite the existence of regulatory frameworks such as the Petroleum Act, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act, and the Oil Pipelines Act, weak enforcement has allowed oil companies to evade accountability. Regulatory agencies such as NOSDRA and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) face significant operational challenges including inadequate funding, lack of independence, and overlapping mandates that hinder effective oversight of oil pollution. Moreover, the exclusion of NESREA from monitoring activities within the oil and gas sector further weakens environmental governance. The paper recommends that legal reforms are necessary to impose stricter penalties for oil spills, enhance the independence of regulatory bodies, and recognize food security as a justiciable right under Nigerian law. The paper recommends further that the government must mandate oil companies to contribute to an environmental remediation fund, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and empower local communities to participate in environmental monitoring. The paper also recommends strengthening of the Nigerian environmental laws and policies as crucial way to mitigate the impact of oil pollution on food security and ensuring sustainable development in oil-producing regions.