LASU-LAWS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CLASS OF 2011/2012

Pictures of the LASU-LAWS Environmental Law Class of 2011/2012 after the last lecture of the session.

© Ayodele Morocco-Clarke

The Environmental and Living Costs of Oil Production in Nigeria

"For over 50 years now, the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from Nigeria's Niger Delta has meant wealth for a privileged few but has exacted heavy costs on residents and the environment.  Nigeria is the world's 8th largest producer of crude oil, yet remains one of its poorest nations -- an estimated 70 percent of its 150 million residents live below the poverty line. The environment is paying a steep price as well. An estimated 500 million gallons of oil have spilled into the delta -- the equivalent of roughly one Exxon Valdez disaster per year. A number of factors have contributed to these disasters: poor construction and maintenance, lax regulation, militant attacks, and petroleum thieves, not to mention government instability and abuse of power. According to cables released by WikiLeaks, Shell Oil claimed to have planted staff in all of Nigeria's main ministries, gaining access to key government decisions. Gathered here are some scenes from Nigeria's long, disastrous relationship with the crude oil industry."  - [Quote taken from "Nigeria: The Cost of Oil" published by the Atlantic Magazine]

Horrific photographs show the extent of environmental degradation in Nigeria & the rape of the Niger-Delta region as a result of petroleum exploration and production activities. See Nigeria: The Cost of Oil for the photographs detailing the magnitude of the pollution caused by Nigeria's oil industry.


AM-C

Biodiversity Basics

What is Biodiversity?

"Biodiversity is a modern term which simply means " the variety of life on earth". This variety can be measured on several different levels." See the full article titled Biodiversity and Conservation by Dr. Barbara Corker. Please note that this article has four web pages, so ensure you click on the "continue" button at the bottom of the page.

AM-C

FURTHER READING MATERIALS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW COURSE

IMPORTANT - Ensure you read the articles which appear on the following links (Click the article titles). The one titled "Environmental Legislation Changes in Nigeria: What Impact on Foreign Investment?" is useful for the development of environmental legislation in Nigeria (i.e. up to when the Federal Environmental Protection Act [FEPA] was passed into law). The second one titled "The International Comparative Legal Guide to Environment Law 2007", makes interesting general reading.

Warning: Both materials are years old and do not always reflect the current state of legislation in Nigeria.

Signed,

Ayodele Morocco-Clarke