Claimants’ classification of Heads of Claims for Oil Spill Damage Assessment in Ondo State, Nigeria

摘要: Oil spillage is one of the major causes of environmental pollution and degradation in Nigeria; the impact of which is untold hardship on the residents as evident in substantial loss of means of livelihood. An important step towards awarding equitable compensation for oil spill damage is proper definition of‗ heads of claim ‘. This study assessed the oil spill victims ‘definition of heads of claim based on Total Economic Value concept in Abereke community of Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State. Out of 368 questionnaires distributed, 247 (64%) of the retrieved were found adequate for data analysis. This study employed Relative Impact Index (RII)–an example of descriptive statistics in analyzing data elicited from potential claimants. The results indicate that compensation for loss of fish harvest, other aquatic life, source of drinking water and food/crop production ranked high among the direct use of land and environmental resources. Flood control, biodiversity maintenance and shoreline protection are least among the potential head of claims among the private claimants. The study recommended among others that there is need to redefine heads of claim considered in awarding compensation to oil spill victims to mitigate the effect of oil spill on the claimants and promote peace in oil producing communities.