Oil Spills and Diplomatic Accountability: An Assessment of Nigeria’s International Environmental Obligations in the Niger Delta

This study assesses how Nigeria has managed its international environmental obligations arising from chronic oil pollution in the Niger Delta, examining the gap between treaty commitments and domestic enforcement. Nigeria is a signatory to multiple international environmental frameworks, including the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, yet oil spills attributable to both corporate negligence and pipeline vandalism continue to cause widespread ecological devastation in the South South geopolitical zone. Drawing on the concept of environmental diplomacy and compliance theory, this research investigates how international pressure, corporate accountability, and domestic governance weaknesses interact to shape Nigeria's environmental performance between 2020 and 2024. The study adopts a qualitative methodology, analysing United Nations Environment Programme reports, diplomatic correspondence, National Assembly hearings, and secondary academic literature. The research focuses on Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa states as the primary study areas. It is anticipated that findings will show that while Nigeria has made formal commitments to environmental protection, enforcement is undermined by institutional capture, corruption, and conflicting economic interests in the petroleum sector. The study contributes to the international relations literature on environmental compliance in developing states and offers targeted policy recommendations. Keywords: oil spills, Niger Delta, environmental diplomacy, Nigeria, treaty compliance.