Enacted in direct response to the May 1988 discovery of 3,800 tonnes of Italian toxic waste dumped at Koko, Delta State, by an Italian operator (Iruekpen Construction). The Act carries a death penalty for offenders. Nigeria became a leading voice for the Bamako Convention (1991) banning hazardous-waste imports to Africa.
Environment1988Military (Babangida)· Cap. H1
Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions) Act
Following the Koko toxic waste scandal — criminalises depositing of harmful waste on Nigerian territory.
Standard citation
Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions) Act (Cap. H1), Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The political & economic reality at enactment
The political and economic reality
Nigeria in 1988: who was in charge, the cabinet of the day, the GDP, and the crises that defined the period of this Act's commencement.
Military President
Gen. Ibrahim Babangida
1985–1993
National reality
Structural Adjustment Programme from 1986 — devaluation of the naira, deregulation, austerity that has, in real terms, never been recovered. Dele Giwa murdered by parcel bomb (1986). Annulled the 12 June 1993 election.
Crises of the period
- SAP 1986
- Dele Giwa assassination (1986)
- Orkar coup attempt (1990)
- Annulment of June 12, 1993
GDP (World Bank)
$30 bn (1985) → $15 bn (1993, post-SAP devaluation)
Cabinet (selected portfolios)
- Education
Prof. A. Babs Fafunwa (1990–92)
- Finance
Chu Okongwu; Olu Falae; Kalu Idika Kalu
Sources · Federal Military Government Gazette 1985–93 · CBN
Methodology
Tier 1 · primary
Courts. Gazettes. National archives.
Tier 2 · corroborating
OCCRP. HRW. BudgIT. TheCable.
Tier 4 · tertiary, flagged
Wikipedia only where primary is pending. Always labelled.