Environmental Impact Assessment Compliance in Petroleum Projects: A Study of Upstream Activities in Bauchi State

This study assesses compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements for upstream petroleum projects in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria, where exploratory activities have been conducted in the Chad Basin region. The EIA Act mandates pre-project environmental studies for all major petroleum activities, but enforcement in Nigeria's frontier zones is poorly documented. Using a qualitative documentary analysis method, the research reviews twelve EIA reports submitted to the Federal Ministry of Environment for Bauchi State petroleum projects between 2018 and 2024, cross-referencing public participation records and post-project monitoring reports. Interviews are conducted with four environment officials in the Bauchi State Ministry of Environment and three civil society representatives. Findings reveal significant deficiencies in public consultation documentation, post-EIA monitoring, and cumulative impact assessment, particularly for seismic survey activities. The study recommends a mandatory public registry of EIA submissions and outcomes for petroleum projects and stronger enforcement powers for state environmental agencies in northern Nigeria. Keywords: EIA compliance, upstream petroleum, Bauchi State, environmental regulation, frontier basin.