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.