A Socio-Technical Analysis of Deep-Sea Mining Risks in the Bight of Benin: Revisiting Norway and the Cook Islands Protocols

Abstract

This research presents a socio-technical analysis of the risks associated with Deep-Sea Mining (DSM) in the Bight of Benin, a critical maritime corridor characterized by complex bathymetry and high ecological sensitivity. Utilizing a Policy-Oriented Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), the study evaluates the "knowledge-governance gap" between Nigeria’s strategic "Blue Economy" ambitions and the technical realities of subsea extraction. The methodology integrates data from high-level official documents, including the Nigerian Blue Economy Strategy (2024) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Draft Regulations, alongside comparative analyses of the Norway and Cook Islands protocols. The findings indicate that the Bight of Benin faces systemic vulnerabilities across the Political, Economic, Social, Technical (PEST) spectrum. Technically, the rugged "mile-deep" environment of the Benin Abyssal Fan, coupled with thick terrigenous sediment, poses significant risks for hydraulic extraction and "Normal Accidents." Socially, the study identifies a "technology of dispossession," where automated industrial mining threatens the artisanal fishing livelihoods that form the bedrock of regional food security. Politically, the research highlights a "governance void," as Nigeria’s terrestrial-focused Minerals and Mining Act (2007) lacks the "institutional elasticity" required for transboundary marine management. The study concludes that Nigeria is currently at risk of "Carbon Lock-in" and stranded subsea assets. It recommends a strategic precautionary moratorium, the establishment of a specialized Seabed Minerals Authority, and the adoption of "Digital Twin" monitoring technologies. By aligning with the restorative justice principles and anticipatory governance models seen in Norway, Nigeria can ensure that its maritime frontier contributes to "ocean thriving" rather than irreversible ecological and socio-economic decay.