The Civil Society And The Regulation Of The Extractive Industry In Nigeria

Abstract

This article focuses on the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in
impacting on trends and developments in the extractive industry in Nigeria.
For example, CSOs take on the government to promote accountability and
probity in the management of the sector that is beset by ineffectual regulation;
alleged collusion with multinational corporations having as consequences
environmental degradation and human rights abuses; and, ineffective judicial
processes, among other things. On the other hand, CSOs are increasingly
beginning to play prominent roles in collaborations with extractive
corporations in the initiation and management of development programmes.
In a nutshell, this paper aims to engage with both theoretical (based on the
Hood et al conceptualisation of a regulatory regime, which encompasses
information gathering, standard setting and behaviour modification activities)
and practical frameworks (such as litigation, collaboration and pressure by
CSOs) that explain the evolution of CSOs and their “regulatory” roles in
Nigeria’s extractive industry. Civil society and civil society organisation are
used interchangeably.