Environmental Justice and Corporate social responsibility in the Nigerian Oil Industry

The thesis examines the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and regional human rights frameworks in advancing environmental justice in Nigeria’s oil industry. Despite decades of CSR initiatives, multinational corporations continue to exploit weak regulatory structures, leading to severe environmental degradation and human rights violations in the Niger Delta. The study critically assesses CSR’s inability to ensure corporate accountability, arguing that voluntary initiatives lack enforceability and primarily serve as corporate reputation management tools rather than mechanisms for substantive environmental protection. Through comprehensive case law analysis, this research evaluates the effectiveness of regional human rights institutions, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the ECOWAS Court of Justice in addressing corporate environmental misconduct. Cases from African, Inter-American and European human rights systems reveal the growing legal recognition of environmental rights but also highlight enforcement challenges. The findings advocate for a transition from voluntary CSR to legally binding corporate obligations, emphasizing the need for stronger regional enforcement mechanisms, corporate due diligence laws and enhanced access to legal remedies. This research contributes to legal scholarship on environmental governance, offering insights into strengthening corporate accountability through human rights law.