ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN NIGERIA: A CASE COMMENT ON CENTRE FOR OIL POLLUTION WATCH V NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Abstract

The determinant of locus standi, in Nigeria, has been the sufficient interest or injury test. This has been an obstacle in Nigeria, in public interest litigation, in public nuisance, particularly in environmental matters. This retarded the development of the law and public interest litigation generally. In the Centre for Oil Pollution Watch v Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,1 the Nigerian Supreme Court in a unanimous decision of 7-0 liberated the rule on locus standi from the shackles of its traditional determinant and established new principles for determining locus standi in public interest litigation in environmental matters.