Multinational Corporations in Nigeria and their Implications on the Right to Water

Abstract

ABSTRACT There is a constant violation of human rights by multinational corporations in developing countries. These human rights violations have increased the debate on corporate social responsibility. Multinational corporations tend to establish their companies in developing countries where poor governance, weak laws and corrupt government is prevalent. To address these problems, international instruments have emerged to hold multinational corporations accountable for violation they perpetuated by them. Reports of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations such as Amnesty International and the United Nations (UN) brought into limelight the negative impacts of the activities of these corporations on the communities where they are located. The consequences of these impacts influence certain human rights such as the right to life, the right to water and the right to health. Focusing on the right to water in Nigeria, this article highlights the challenges of access to clean water in Nigeria. It emphasizes on the absence of adequate laws protecting the human right to water in Nigeria and the opportunity these inadequate laws has created for multinational corporations like Shell in the Niger-Delta to violate human rights in general and the right to water in particular. It elaborates on corporate social responsibility, international standards and the human right to water. It suggests more stringent roles for multinational corporations towards enhancing the human right to water in Nigeria.