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 menaceand 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 environmentalproblems. Therefore, the emphasis over environmental degradation in Nigeria is gradually shifting from theabsence of adequate regulations with criminal sanctions on the environmental infractions of these laws to theenforcement of the plethora of laws. The challenges in enforcing these laws are enormous as the agencies vestedwith the power to enforce the laws witness some challenges such as inadequacy of trained staff and equipmentand even in some cases apathy to go after offenders. The aim of this article is therefore to critically examine theprime issue of environmental sustainability and governance, the law as it is in other developed jurisdictions likeUnited Kingdom, Canada, United State of America and others, the production of oil and gas and its consequentenvironmental impact is further examined in comparative context in this article with more attention on the abovementioned countries. It also has recommendation for reviewed to provide for stiffer sanctions that wouldeffectively deter intending environmental polluters.