GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA OF NIGERIA: A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND COMMENT ON THE CASE OF JOHNAH GBEMRE V SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF NIGERIA LIMITED

The relationship between the protection of the environment and human rights was first established in the Stockholm Declaration of 1972. Since then, it has become acknowledged that human rights such as the right to life can only be enjoyed in a pollution free environment. It is on this premise that this paper seeks to examine how gas flaring, being one of the major environmental challenges in the Niger Delta, is affecting the right to life of the inhabitants. Materials are sourced from both primary and secondary sources to analyse the issues in contention. Data and information are extracted from the Amnesty International Report, United Nations Environmental Programme Report, and the United Nations Development Programme Report. Also, an analysis of the case of Johnah Gbemre v Shell Petroleum Development Company Of Nigeria Limited is done in order to evaluate the judicial response on this perspective.