Ownership Rights over Oil and Gas Resources in Cameroon: The case of the South West Region

ABSTRACT

Oil and gas resources are invaluable for the wealth and wellbeing of a country. As such, ownership over these ‘treasures’ should not and never should be treated with levity. In Cameroon, the state exercises sovereignty over oil and gas resources as occasioned by its legislative framework, especially the 1999 Petroleum Code and the 2002 Gas Code. However, despite the impressive structures of Cameroonian laws governing ownership over oil and gas resources and notwithstanding the energy, zeal, and actions envisaged in the enactment of these laws, with its language raising expectations of good behavior, national realities routinely fail to keep up the pace with the aspirations of lawmakers as illegal dealings in the oil and gas sector continue to thrive Cameroon and the South West Region in particular. This is attributed to factors such as corruption, poor governance, increased demand for contraband fuel, and the non-implementation of laws and policies on oil and gas resources. The aim of this study which is to examine the effectiveness of mechanisms adopted by the Cameroonian government in protecting ownership over oil and gas resources was therefore attained by the use of a qualitative research methodology. The Researcher makes recourse to the Command Law Theory of John Austin and the Triple Pronged Theory of Henry Shue to support the fact that laws governing ownership over oil and gas resources ought to be perceived as commands by Cameroonians in general and those of the South West Region in particular. The State on the other hand must respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of the citizenry together with that of other nations such as Nigeria in its quest to exercise ownership over oil and gas resources. It is therefore recommended that the Government of Cameroon should commit herself genuinely to fight against corruption, adhere to the terms of the Green Tree Accord, subsidize the price of fuel, adopt and implement a more solid legislative framework on oil and gas.