Dumping disincentives

The Nigerian government has sounded a toxic waste alarm. It claims to have unearthed a plan by oil producing firms to dump 35,000 metric tonnes of waste in the country.

The petroleum and energy department has issued a stern warning to all companies, directing them to follow the waste disposal process laid down by the department of petroleum resources (dpr). Presidential adviser on petroleum and energy Rilwanu Lukman has set an 18-month deadline for the operators to complete the process of shutting down all the waste pits. A committee has been set up under dpr to review and revise the related laws and guidelines "with a view to including clauses for the prosecution of defaulters". Lukman says, "There are about 35,000 metric tonnes of drill cuttings stockpiled and some operators plan to dump the same in remote areas.