OIL AND GAS EXPLOITATION AND ENERGY SECURITY RIGHTS OF HOST COMMUNITIES OF NIGERIA

This paper doctrinally examined oil and gas exploitation and the energy security rights of host communities in Nigeria, exposing a trajectory of resource abundance and national wealth, but a paradox of a population in abject want, environmental degradation, economic emasculation and deliberate domestic energy unavailability and unaffordability, resulting in grinding energy poverty. The research doctrinally identified the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, as to the adequacies of legislation in addressing these multi-faceted challenges and how the layers of governance interpret and translate legally entrenched social-economic obligations into ensuring energy security necessities of the host communities, who are at the sewage end of the resource exploitation activities, but eluded by deliberate institutional inertia. This paper links findings to “ineffective governance” and “deliberate regulatory ambiguities”. It is recommended that the PIA be substantively amended to cure intentional lacunae and inadequacies. Attitudinal institutional re-evolution is highly advocated; refinery infrastructure and household smart rollout gas meter piping infrastructure is recommended. A resilient shock-free and radially multi-macroeconomic resource strategy is vital. The host communities’ interests should be integrated into the JVAs, and Product Sharing Contracts; as gasflaring compensation distributable to individuals as dis-incentive for the intentionally ungovernable gas-flaring will suffice.