REVIEW ON THE NEED FOR REGULATORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE IN OIL EXPLORATION COMMUNITIES OF OHAJI/EGBEMA, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Oil and gas extraction remains central to Nigeria’s fiscal base, yet environmental externalities are severe and persistent in host communities such as Ohaji/Egbema, Imo State, the environmental externalities are severe and persistent. This study investigates the regulatory and environmental compliance in upstream operations within Egbema. Drawing on Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act 2021, NESREA Regulations 2011, and NUPRC guidelines, this study maps the disconnect between statutory standards and on-ground realities. A mixed-methods approach was used: policy review, household survey (n = 240), key informant interviews (n = 12), and environmental sampling (n = 28). The study analyzes field-level issues, including hydrocarbon contamination of the Orashi River, chronic gas flaring, soil sterility, and public health burdens. Laboratory results show that water and soil at the flowline sites exceeded the NESREA limits for TPH, pH, chloride, and lead. Survey data indicate that 81.3% of residents reported declining fish catch and 73.3% rated spill response as poor. The study contends that compliance failures fuel conflict, livelihood collapse, and ecological decline. It proposes a compliance model anchored on independent monitoring, financial assurance for remediation, and structured community participation through HCDTs. In conclusion, environmental compliance must be operationalized as a core license-to-operate condition in Egbema.