A BRADFORD professor was part of a high-profile group who have visited Nigeria to investigate the damaged caused by oil spills.

Prof Engobo Emeseh, head of the School of Law at the University of Bradford, is one of the eight members of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission, which is chaired by the Archbishop of York John Sentamu.

It investigates the environmental and human impact of multinational oil company activity and what it means for the future of people in the state of Bayelsa, Nigeria and other oil-producing nations.

The commission is developing recommendations to develop new legal framework to make companies accountable for clean-ups and to ensure communities are compensated for the impact of environmental pollution.

Prof Emeseh said: “'It is an honour to be part of the commission alongside some outstanding individuals.

"I am hopeful that our work will contribute towards making some positive changes to what has been an intractable problem in the Niger Delta."

The commission visited oil-spill sites in the Bayelsa state in Nigeria to speak to affected residents, and will publish a report of its findings later this year and make recommendations to the new legal framework to make oil companies operating in the area accountable.