SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND OIL SPILL MANAGEMENT: A THEORETICAL DISCOURSE OF NATIONAL OIL SPILL DETECTION AND RESPONSE AGENCY (NOSDRA), IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The history of oil spill in Nigeria dates back to its discovery in 1957; since then several attempts have been made to put together legislation and institution to ensure the safety of the environment. However, most of the laws dealt mainly with the issue of alienation, disempowerment and access to petroleum resources. The advent of oil sector and the associated spills brought along with it associated decline in the traditional economic activities, consequently depriving oil host communities of their means of livelihood. The Nigeria State however, has strived to ensure that its environmental policies and programs encourage sustainable development through its environmental ministries and agencies; it has put in place ministry, such as the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME), and agencies such as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). Utilizing the qualitative research approach and within the political ecology theory, the paper examined the Sustainable environmental development policies and Oil Spill Management. A theoretical discourse of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Nigeria. NOSDRA like some other environmental protection agencies, have Problems confronting her in the implementation and achieving the objectives of sustainable development. They include; lack of Government will power to sanction and enforce environmental policies, non-adherence to best international standard environmental policy, corruption, bureaucratic bottle-neck, rouge oil multinational agencies. Reviewing the mentioned problems, checking and implementing them will go a long way in achieving the desired objectives of NOSDRA.