The Legal Regulation of Port Waste Management in the United Kingdom and Nigeria: Comparative Analysis of Southampton Port in the UK and Apapa Port in Nigeria

Abstract

This research centres on the legal regulation of port waste management in the UK and Nigeria: comparative analysis of Southampton port and Apapa Lagos port. The research focused on ship-generated waste, and operational discharge of waste from ship at the port. Thus, waste generation within the port environment occurs due to shipping and multifarious activities at the port. It is therefore important, that waste generation is properly regulated due to pivotal role port plays in economic development via export and import of goods into a country. Hence, such economic development could be hindered, if waste legislation is not adequately implemented or effectively managed. Therefore, measures must be taken nationally and internationally to control port waste generation with a view to protecting port from negative effect of ineffective port waste management. This research, therefore, addresses the problems of waste and the effective legal framework for solving waste glitches as well as the machinery for its enforcement.
This research used interview, to examine the view of various stakeholders on port waste management, compliance with its legal framework and the role of such legal regulations for effective port waste management. Furthermore, the research also recognised a direct link between adequate port waste reception facilities, port decongestion, secure and safety of the port environment, which perhaps form the nucleus of waste management. The research therefore, aims to establish that effective and efficient port waste management is a strong panacea in oiling the wheel of port waste free. It therefore recommends that both the UK and Nigeria government and its relevant agencies should make concerted efforts to ensure efficient and effective implementation of legal regulations of port waste management at all level at the port with a view to securing port from ineffective waste management.