THE RIGHT TO LIFE IN THE FACE OF GRAVE ENVIRONMENTAL INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

"Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life support system ", The environment is the social and cultural condition that affects an individual or a community. Humans inhabits the natural world as well as the "built" or technological, social and cultural world, all these constitute important parts of our environment. Right in a general form means that to which a person has just and valid claim, whether it be land, a thing or the privilege of doing something or saying something. Environmental abuse is a major issue affecting all aspect of the development of the nation, it is an aspect of human life that can no longer be ignored. The environment is the man's first right. Without a safe environment man cannot exist to claim other rights, be they political, social or economic. The capacity to protect life and property within its territorial sovereignty is generally regarded as the most significant indicia of statehood. It is therefore a negation of man's first right (Environmental Right) for there to exist pervasive insecurity of life and property. Thus we argue that in the face of militancy, terrorism, destruction of national infrastructure and indeed other crime, environmental right especially and indeed fundamental and non-fundamental rights cannot be protected.