PANACEA TOWARDS RESOLVING CONTEMPORARY LEGAL ISSUES OF OIL BUNKERING ON THE HIGH SEAS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Bunkering is ordinarily a lawful maritime activity involving the supply of oil and gas to vessels. However, in Nigeria, the term has acquired an illegal connotation, commonly associated with crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal refining, and the unauthorised exportation of petroleum resources. Illegal oil bunkering on the high seas poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s economic development. This paper examined the causes, effects, and legal responses to illegal oil bunkering on the high seas in Nigeria, with a view to identifying practical solutions to the problem. It adopted the doctrinal legal research methodology, relying on primary sources, including statutes, international conventions, and judicial authorities, as well as secondary sources. The paper argued that a holistic and collaborative approach is essential to combating illegal oil bunkering and safeguarding Nigeria’s petroleum resources for sustainable national development. It found that illegal oil bunkering is driven by several interconnected factors, including poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, and corruption. The paper concluded that existing legal and institutional mechanisms have not been sufficiently effective in addressing the menace due to enforcement challenges. It recommended comprehensive legal reforms and strengthened enforcement mechanisms, among other measures, to combat illegal oil bunkering effectively.