African Trade Policy and Economics (Economics/Political Science/Law | 06 February 2009
Corporate Compliance under Nigerian Environmental Law Enforcement Practices: An Ethnographic Study
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Abstract
Nigeria faces significant environmental challenges due to lax enforcement of its environmental laws, leading to widespread corporate non-compliance and pollution. An in-depth qualitative study involving participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis among a sample of corporate entities across Nigeria's oil sector and urban areas. Corporate actors often engage in strategic non-compliance, adjusting their operations to avoid detection or mitigate costs, particularly in the presence of weak law enforcement mechanisms. The study reveals complex dynamics between corporate interests and environmental regulations, highlighting the need for improved regulatory frameworks and compliance incentives. Nigerian policymakers should enhance environmental laws' enforceability through stricter penalties and more transparent monitoring processes to encourage corporate accountability.