Shell Oil Company in Nigeria: Impediment or Catalyst of Socio-Economic Development?

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the She oil company, through investment and crude oil exploration, benefits socio-economic growth in Nigeria in general and in the Niger Delta of Nigeria in particular. In 1998, the United Nations Special Rapporteur's report on Nigeria accused Nigeria and Shell of violating human rights and failing to protect the environment, and called for an investigation into Shell activities in Nigeria. The report condemned Shell for arming the security forces which it regularly deploy to use lethal force civilians that protest against the oil firm.” The paper explores the matrix within which the socio-economic rights (human rights, development rights and environment rights) have been significantly marginalised and the implications of the lack corporate social responsibility and the lack of accountability of Shell to the inhabitants of the Niger Delta of Nigeria. With respect to environmental obligations, the paper discusses how environmental degradation in the Niger Delta has infringed on human rights thereby impeding growth and economic development. The paper suggests possible future directions and initiatives for civil society in making corporations more accountable to states, citizens and the planet.Shell, Crude oil, Nigeria, Development, Economy

The Dynamics of Gang Criminality and Corruption in Nigeria Universities: A Time Series Analysis

This study contributes to the understanding of the causal relationship between gang culture, criminality and corruption in Nigeria universities where both criminality and corruption are very high complementary variables. Writers on gang culture in Nigeria universities have largely omitted the empirical evaluation of the causal relationship between gang criminality and corruption. This study adopts the time-series models of Granger (1969) to investigate and explain the causality relationship of the variables. Using five years data (2005-2009) from 37 Universities across 36 States of Nigeria and Abuja, the federal capital territory; the results suggest that there is existence of reciprocal relationship between university gang culture, criminality and corruption. The results suggest that there is bi-directional causality relationship flowing between gang criminality and corruption in the universities.Gang, Corruption, University, Nigeria, Education, Time Series, Criminality, Granger, Unit root, Causal link.

Shell Oil Company in Nigeria: Impediment or Catalyst of Socio-Economic Development?

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the She oil company, through investment and crude oil exploration, benefits socio-economic growth in Nigeria in general and in the Niger Delta of Nigeria in particular. In 1998, the United Nations Special Rapporteur's report on Nigeria accused Nigeria and Shell of violating human rights and failing to protect the environment, and called for an investigation into Shell activities in Nigeria. The report condemned Shell for arming the security forces which it regularly deploy to use lethal force civilians that protest against the oil firm.” The paper explores the matrix within which the socio-economic rights (human rights, development rights and environment rights) have been significantly marginalised and the implications of the lack corporate social responsibility and the lack of accountability of Shell to the inhabitants of the Niger Delta of Nigeria. With respect to environmental obligations, the paper discusses how environmental degradation in the Niger Delta has infringed on human rights thereby impeding growth and economic development. The paper suggests possible future directions and initiatives for civil society in making corporations more accountable to states, citizens and the planet

The Dynamics of Gang Criminality and Corruption in Nigeria Universities: A Time Series Analysis

This study contributes to the understanding of the causal relationship between gang culture, criminality and corruption in Nigeria universities where both criminality and corruption are very high complementary variables. Writers on gang culture in Nigeria universities have largely omitted the empirical evaluation of the causal relationship between gang criminality and corruption. This study adopts the time-series models of Granger (1969) to investigate and explain the causality relationship of the variables. Using five years data (2005-2009) from 37 Universities across 36 States of Nigeria and Abuja, the federal capital territory; the results suggest that there is existence of reciprocal relationship between university gang culture, criminality and corruption. The results suggest that there is bi-directional causality relationship flowing between gang criminality and corruption in the universities

To What Extent Can Equity Find Expression in Constructive Trust Under the Nigerian Legal System?

The object of this paper is to examine the assertion that, constructive trust is a vital legal mechanism through which the conscience of equity finds expression. When real property is acquired in such circumstances that the legal title holder may not in good conscience keep the beneficial interest, equity makes him a trustee of the property.[1] This treatise does not seek to provide a comprehensive philosophical analysis of constructive trust as a subject-matter however, it sets out to elucidate the landscape, growth and cogency for the imposition of constructive trust as probably a safer means by which the legal and equitable interests of the relevant parties may be protected in real and personal properties. Thus, the paper assessed the degree to which constructive trust as equitable remedy is applicable under the Nigerian legal system. Also, the paper seeks to offer viable suggestions for the improvement of the concept and applicability of constructive trust in contemporary settings. Keywords: Constructive trust, Equity, Land. [1] per Lord Denning in Binion v Evans (1972) Ch 35

The Legal Barriers to International Movement of Goods and their Impact on the Administration of Small Scale Organisations in the United Kingdom

The carriage of goods across international boundaries involves bulk and sometimes complex transportation and therefore requires planning and the deployment of resources and logistics. In most cases, the use of sea transportation is commonly preferred. The legal issues surrounding the carriage of goods have informed the development of trade laws and international commercial law including the law of contract. Carriage of Goods by Sea, land and air are comprehensive yet dynamic body of law which continues to develop through statute and case laws, both domestic and foreign. The objective of the paper is to discuss some of the fundamental legal hurdles which confront small scale firms engaging in export and import businesses in the United Kingdom; to discuss some of the problems of the current international trade laws; and, to address the possible implications of failing to comply with the legal requirements of international trade

The Dilemma of Minerals Dependent Economy: The case of Foreign Direct Investment and Pollution in Nigeria

This study empirically investigates the causal relationship between mineral exploration and environmental pollution in Nigeria with specific focus on natural gas and crude oil in Niger Delta region. The model of Granger causality tests was used. Quarterly data covering 2008 and 2009 were used in accordance with the Akaike (1976) minimum lag length for time-series analysis. The ADF unit root tests show that the null hypothesis of unit root is rejected and, the KPSS stationarity test result accepts the null hypothesis of "stationarity " implying that the variables are fit for the purpose of Granger causality analysis. The test for cointegration show that the variables are cointegrated at the trace level; this imply that gas flaring, environmental pollution and foreign direct investment are statistically linked. The regression on the ordinary least square illustrates that the impact of oil and natural gas exploration on the Nigerian environment is persistent in the long-run. The Granger-causality test result shows that there is one-way causality flowing from the flaring of gas by the foreign firms to the environmental pollution in Nigeria. The study finds a long-run uni-directional causal relationship flowing from mineral exploration to air, soil and water pollution