Oil Spill Management in Nigeria: SWOT Analysis of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) Process

Akpofure Rim-Rukeh^*

Department of Environmental Science, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2015.63026                

Abstract

The Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) process of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have been analysed using the Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) methodology. The oil spill Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) is empowered by the Oil Spill Recovery, Clean-up, Remediation and Damage Assessment Reulations, 2011 Section 5. The strength of the JIV process lies within its participatory nature and the well defined legal structure of the process. The oil spill Joint Investigation Visit process in Nigeria has several weaknesses—lack of independence and oversight, lack of technical competence on the part of regulatory bodies, lack of technical competence on the part of community representative, lack of transparency on the part of oil companies, lack of general procedure for determining the actual cause of spill, lack of general procedure for determining the actual volume of oil spilled, determination on the size of the impacted area and exclusion of women from the JIV Process. The JIV process for oil spill presents a number of opportunities such as; increasing community awareness, growing consciousness through Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and capacity building of stakeholders. Possible threats to the JIV process include; poor governance and corruption, manipulation of the Process by the spiller through the start date of an oilspill and obvious lack of transparency. Improved effectiveness of the JIV process will depend on strengthening of government agency coordination, integrated decision-making adequate training to various stakeholders and supporting infrastructure for purposeful monitoring and enforcement.

Keywords

Joint Investigation Visit, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Nigeria, SWOT Analysis, Oil Spill, Community Trepresentatives

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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