ENHANCING ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION: THE KEY TO SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Several  laws  have  been  enacted  by  the  Federal  and  State  Governments  in  Nigeriawith  a  view  to  enhancing environmental  protection  and  sustainable  development.    Implementation  and  enforcement  of  these  laws  by  the relevant government agencies have been lacking.  This has resulted in huge environmental problems in the country, such  as  flooding,  oil  spillage,  deforestation,  spread  of  diseases  etc.,  therefore  there  is  the  need  to  strengthen  the citizen’s right to enforcement of environmental protection rights.Environmental litigation is therefore, a means by which this can be achieved.  It is the means by which environmental laws are brought to live, invested with teeth not only to bark but also to bite offenders.  The government agencies cannot cover every nook and cranny on Nigeria in terms of protecting the environment but the citizens live there. If they are empowered to protect their environment, then, the dream of Nigeria for sustainable development through environmental protection will be guaranteed.This paper therefore, seeks to examine the various challenges which citizens face with respect to the enforcement of their environmental rights.  The Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended) does not guarantee environmental protection rights  as  fundamental  rights.    This  paper  seeks  to  make  a  case  for  its  amendment  to  include  environmentalprotection rights under the fundamental rights provisions.It also makes a case for the enhancement of the judicial procedures  to  ensure  that  environmental  protection  suits  are  not  hindered  by  the  technicalitiesandjudicial shortcomings which are commonly employed to frustrate citizens who attempt to enforce their environmental right.  The paper therefore recommends judicial activism by the Nigerian Courts.