AN APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The development of environmental management and sustainable development is borne out of the recognition that the environment is important and therefore human activities need to be guided strictly by enabling legal regimes so as to ensure environmental continuity for future generation. This general concern prompted the interest of the researcher in this area. The statement of the problem of this dissertation is borne out of the fact that management and protection of the environment can arguably be said to be one of the biggest contemporary issues and yet its effective protection remains unsettled. In addition, Nigeria is currently facing diverse environmental challenges ranging from depletion of natural forest, oil pollution, and desertification, high rate of soil degradation, gully and coastal erosion to the very recent large scale flooding. The aim of this work is to appraise the legal framework for the enforcement of environmental law in Nigeria. Thus, the objective of this dissertation is to examine the nature and scope of environmental management and sustainable development in Nigeria with a view to improving the implementation mechanism in Nigeria. The work relied on doctrinal method of research and places reliance on Statutes, Conventions, Case laws, books, articles in journals as well as internet materials. The dissertation found (among others) that, there was lack of adequate enforcement mechanisms in spite of the existing laws (at both local and national levels) on waste control and management. Finally, this dissertation was concluded by recommending (among others) that, the government at all levels should take proactive measures to strengthen institutional enforcement mechanisms in Nigeria