STATUTORY TECHNIQUES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN NIGERIA: CRIMINAL SANCTIONS AND MINISTERIAL ORDERS

Abstract

It is often said that practicing the environment ensures that all forms of development twill last or be sustainable.There is no gainsaying the fact that the environment is the life support system of mankind. Unfortunately, mankindseems to have taken the liberty of the biblical dominion over the earth to plunder the earth and its resourcesthereby jeopardizing its own very existence and sustainable development. As noted by the World Commission onEnvironment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) Report 1987, sustainable development is adevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meettheir own needs. This paper therefore examined the various statutory techniques for environmental control inNigeria in the form of prescribed criminal sanctions and ministerial orders. It found that such statutoryinterventions are necessary for a sound protection of the environment. It equally found however, that the sanctionsprovided are inadequate to achieve the desired result. It therefore recommended that the sanction regime beseriously reviewed to achieve a more effective protection of the environment.