‘If anyone intentionally spoils the water of another… let him not only pay damages but purify the stream or cistern which contains the water …’1 Pollution has been with humans since the commencement of physical and economic activities, but the surge in pollution we are currently experiencing started during the industrialisation of the 1900s. The release of chemicals mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, emission of biocidal products, and hazardous substances has resulted in this massive pollution. To address this cataclysm, the ‘polluter pays principle’ was adopted which generally imposes liability of preventing and controlling pollution on the originator (the polluter). This principle imposes responsibility on polluters to bear the costs of managing pollution, compensating victims, and being responsible for eventual environmental damage. Several countries have adopted this principle as part of their environmental policy, including Nigeria. This article will look critically into the polluter pays principle in Nigeria.