Overview

The Oil in Navigable Waters Act (Chapter 337) is a Nigerian law enacted on 22nd April 1968 to implement the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil (1954 to 1962). The Act prohibits the discharge of certain oils (crude oil, fuel oil, lubricating oil, heavy diesel oil, and other oils prescribed by the Minister) into prohibited sea areas from Nigerian ships. It also provides for special defences, equipment requirements to prevent oil pollution, penalties, record-keeping, harbour facilities for oil residue disposal, restrictions on oil transfer at night, duty to report discharges, powers of inspection, enforcement, exemptions, application to government-owned ships, and annual reporting. The Act defines prohibited sea areas in a Schedule and allows the Minister to designate additional areas or vary existing ones to protect Nigeria's coast and territorial waters.

Download