The Nigerian Niger Delta and the Invisible Hand of TREMF: Exploring the (IM)Possibility of Socio-Economic Justice Under the Un 'Ruggie' Guiding Principles

The Nigerian Niger Delta region which is home to Nigerias large crude oil reserves, has grappled with many problems since the inception of crude oil explorations in the area over six decades ago. From environmental degradations to flagrant violation of human rights, the pitfalls of the exploration activities have hugely undermined the socio-economic wellbeing of the people and thereby causing them socio-economic injustice. This thesis tested how, and found that, the protracted socio-economic problems in the Niger Delta exemplifies Upendra Baxis germinal theory on the emergence (and now prevalence) of a trade-related and market-friendly (TREMF) paradigm that supplants human rights under the paradigm of UDHR in favour of assigning more rights to global capital. It then explored the potentials of the UN Ruggie Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in contributing towards socio-economic justice, in the light of the TREMF paradigm, in the Niger Delta.