By Orohwedor Oborevwori*, Ifeoluwayimika Bamidele*, A.I. Akinleye*
Abstract
Oil production in Nigeria’s Niger Delta has produced prolonged ecological degradation and public health harms despite a dense legal framework. Utilizing the doctrinal approach, this article analyses the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the NESREA Act, the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, and the NOSDRA regime, read with constitutional directives, the African Charter, UNCLOS, and UNEP’s Ogoniland guidance. It synthesises empirical evidence on exposure pathways including contaminated drinking water, soil to crop and fish bioaccumulation, and air pollution from routine gas flaring, and links these to respiratory disease, hepatorenal injury, and adverse birth outcomes. The analysis reveals enforcement deficits, fragmented mandates, weak sanctions, methodological flaws in Joint Investigation Visits, and a pay to pollute equilibrium under pecuniary penalties. It concludes by
proposing revenue-based penalties and strict liability triggers, codified parent company duties, an independently governed remediation fund, specialised environmental benches, mandatory Health Impact Asses sments.