Assessing the Legal Framework for the Realization of Environmental Democracy in Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental democracy reflects the growing recognition that environmental issues must be tackled by all those affected by their effect, and not just by governments, corporate and industrial sectors. The environment and its natural resources play a significant part in guaranteering a secure, healthy and productive life for the international community. Thus, the rising concern for the environment has compelled citizens of different nations to demand for increased opportunities to be involved in the decisions that will affect the quality of their lives and their environment. This concern has been at the vanguard (frontline) of the international environmental governance discourse and it is believed to be a channel of making environmental governance issues more public-participatory and the government more transparent, effective and accountable in its environmental decision-making processes. This paper, which adopted the doctrinal research methodology, assesses the concept of environmental democracy in the light of the existing legal framework on the realization and promotion of the enjoyment of environmental democracy by the Nigerian people. It traces the legal foundations of environmental democratic rights in the international environmental governance discourse as well as its status within the Nigerian environmental governance legal framework. To achieve its aim, the paper is divided into four sections starting with the introduction. Section two x-rays the importance of environmental democracy. Section three examines the legal framework for environmental democracy in Nigeria, while the paper concludes in section four with recommendations.