Managing Climate Change for Sustainable Development: Nigeria's Oil and Gas Sector

The issue of climate change is a global concern which continues to worry world leaders, especially in developed countries and international organisations. However, every country has a responsibility to ensure that environment friendly policies are formulated and implemented in pursuit of well-defined development agendas. This paper highlights the challenges posed by the detrimental practices of international oil companies in Nigeria and governmental policy responses to them. Environmental degradation and pollution caused by oil spillage and gas flaring have often necessitated official intervention in the activities and operations of oil companies. An objective assessment of Nigerian efforts at managing climate change reveals that the problem has not been properly tackled by extant government policies and, where new policies have been enunciated their implementation has not been effectively pursued. Nigeria's need to address and manage the issue of climate change cannot be overemphasised and requires interagency collaboration and coordination.