QUEST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND INTEGRITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The evolution of environmental laws in Nigeria began as a result of the need to combat the increasing menace and incidents of environmental issues. These challenges range from deforestation, desertification, air pollution, land pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, waste pollution, oil and gas flaring, atmospheric imbalance, etc. Today the Nigerian Environment remains more threatened than ever before from the effects of environmental problems. Therefore, the emphasis over environmental degradation in Nigeria is gradually shifting from the absence of adequate regulations with criminal sanctions on the environmental infractions of these laws to the enforcement of the plethora of laws. The challenges in enforcing these laws are enormous as the agencies vested with the power to enforce the laws witness some challenges such as inadequacy of trained staff and equipment and even in some cases apathy to go after offenders. The aim of this article is therefore to critically examine the prime issue of environmental sustainability and governance, the law as it is in other developed jurisdictions like United Kingdom, Canada, United State of America and others, the production of oil and gas and its consequent environmental impact is further examined in comparative context in this article with more attention on the above mentioned countries. It also has recommendation for reviewed to provide for stiffer sanctions that would effectively deter intending environmental polluters.