EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NIGERIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND POLICIES IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

This research critically examined the impact of environmental laws and policies o environmental protection in Nigeria focusing, on their effectiveness in addressing persistent environmental challenges such as pollution, land degradation and biodiversity loss. It found that these issues were worsened by rapid industrialization, urbanization and natural resource exploitation particularly, in oil-producing regions. While, Nigeria had incorporated international environmental standards and acknowledged the right to a healthy environment through the African Charter and other international instruments the absence of an explicit enforceable environmental right in the 1999 Constitution hindered meaningful protection. Section 6(6)(c) of the Constitution rendered many socio-economic and environmental rights non-justiciable limiting legal accountability. The research highlighted barriers such as public ignorance, costly and delayed legal processes and the narrow application of locus standi which, restricted access to justice for affected communities. Using doctrinal methodology, the research analyzed case laws, statutes and scholarly materials and explored international best practices that had advanced environmental justice elsewhere. It concluded that despite some progress structural and legal deficiencies continued to obstruct effective environmental protection in Nigeria. The research recommended constitutional reform to make environmental rights justiciable, improved procedural access to justice, enhanced public awareness and participation to strengthen environmental governance and sustainability.