Godwin Daramola, UK-based Nigerian legal scholar A Nigerian legal scholar based in the United Kingdom, Godwin Daramola, has called for stricter environmental regulations and legally enforceable sustainability obligations for oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria, arguing that voluntary corporate social responsibility initiatives have failed to resolve longstanding challenges in host communities.
Daramola, a doctoral researcher and teaching fellow in law at the University of Hull, said environmental protection, community development and corporate accountability should be embedded in law rather than left to the discretion of companies. According to a statement issued on Sunday, the legal scholar argued that the traditional Corporate Social Responsibility model widely adopted in the extractive sector has delivered limited benefits because it is largely based on philanthropy and goodwill rather than enforceable obligations.
He maintained that decades of corporate donations and community projects have not adequately addressed environmental degradation and socio-economic challenges confronting many oil-producing communities, particularly in the Niger Delta. Daramola said, “Meaningful reform requires the adoption of sustainable business practices backed by enforceable laws, regulatory oversight and long-term corporate accountability.” He stressed that sustainability in the oil and gas industry should no longer be treated as an aspirational goal but as a legal requirement, adding that companies must be held accountable for their environmental and social impacts.
According to him, mandatory obligations for operators should include environmental remediation, transparent engagement with host communities, and measurable socio-economic outcomes. Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has, for decades, faced criticism over environmental pollution, oil spills, gas flaring and the perceived neglect of host communities, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
His research focuses on strengthening corporate governance and environmental accountability within the oil and gas sector, with particular emphasis on creating legal frameworks that compel companies to adopt sustainable business practices. The legal scholar is qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and is also a Registered Foreign Lawyer regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales.
He currently serves as a senior legal officer with a London-based company, where he handles corporate risk, compliance and cross-border contractual matters. Daramola recently received the University of Hull Postgraduate Research Award for Excellence in Student Publication in recognition of his contributions to corporate governance, sustainability law and environmental justice.
He has also been invited to present papers and chair sessions at international academic forums, including events hosted by the DePaul University College of Law and the University of Oslo. He reiterated that environmental protection, community equity and legal accountability must form the foundation of corporate conduct in the oil and gas industry, insisting that stronger regulatory frameworks are necessary to ensure sustainable development in resource-producing communities.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission had called for the mandatory implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility by Nigerian businesses to improve corporate governance, promote sustainability and contribute to national economic development.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, the legal scholar argued that the traditional Corporate Social Responsibility model widely adopted in the extractive sector has delivered limited benefits because it is largely based on philanthropy and goodwill rather than enforceable obligations.
Daramola said, “Meaningful reform requires the adoption of sustainable business practices backed by enforceable laws, regulatory oversight and long-term corporate accountability.” He stressed that sustainability in the oil and gas industry should no longer be treated as an aspirational goal but as a legal requirement, adding that companies must be held accountable for their environmental and social impacts.