Abstract

The pollution of rivers and lakes by n~tural and human activities is causing some concern thc world over because of the problems it poses to mankind's existence 2 (~epple, ,973'; Hakanson, 1974 ; Bryce-jmitl , 1975~; 4 Hodges, 1977 ; Sada et al, 1%a5, Faculty of Law, 6 University of Ibadan 1988 , His Holiness, Pcpe John Paul XI, 1 9w7). Industrial wheels and products, natural disasters such as floods, explosions and earthqunkcs 1 we continued to pollute the environment including rivers rmd lakes. Concern about pollution and its survelli~mcc has become of recent interest in the developing countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroun, because of increasing urbanization, increasing industrial activiti ss and modernisation of agricultural practice in terms of the application of fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. In the advanced countries, the concern las assumed such a dimension that in the United States o : America for example, the slogan is "pollute and pay :'or ever". According to R. T- ~ur~h~'~ in: Generator iles ~onsibilities in Selecting Treatment, Storage and Disposal Services (TSD), flselecting an off-side TSD, especial1 2 y for ha; zrdo wastes, is similar to selecting a spouse. 30th decisions are important and can lead Lo increase of sati~faction or grief and can result 'in unanticipated expense md legal implications". "In today's legal climate, he (:ontinues, it is often easier and less costly to extricatf a client from a bad marriage than for an unfortunate di~posal facility selection". In Nigeria, this concern is evidenced by tie recently promulgated Federal bvironmental Protection Agl ?ncy (FEPA) decree of 1988 and which was launched by Presidtmnt Ibrahim Babangida at Abuja on Monday, November 27th, 19E9. 1.1 Importance of the River Niger The River Niger system, with a length of about b 3 4,200 km, a discharge of 190 km per year and a r rainage 3 basin of roughly 1.24 x lo4 km , is the third laryest river in the whole of Africa (after the Zaire and the I4 ile) and 9 'lo the largest in West Africa r rove, 1972 ; Leeden, 1975 , Martins, 198211; Belck, 1983'~~ and 01urunferni13, 1983). In Nigeria, it is economically, socially and culturally important, for apart from serving as an important waterway, it provides rich agricu3.tural Plood basins for the growth of food and veg