THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS IN MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT IN NIGERIA: POLICY AND GOVERNANCE REVIEW

Ahmed Abubakar*1, Mohd Yusoff Ishak2, Khadijah Musa Yaro3, Aminu Suleiman Zangina4

1Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
3Department of Biotechnology, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria
4National Biotechnology Development Agency, North-West Zone, Katsina, P.M.B. 2140, Nigeria.
Correspondence author: Ahmed Abubakar Email: abubakar8550483@gmail.com

Received 13th November 2021; accepted 22nd November 2021
Available online 20th May 2022

ABSTRACT. Environmental protection starts with individuals, groups, and communities at large. The government at its level formulates, regulates, and enforces laws and policies governing environmental protection as well as the punishment of violators through designated legal institutions. The aim of this review is to examine the role of environmental institutions in protecting the environment in Nigeria. The findings revealed that national policies for the protection of the environment came into existence only in 1991. This study employed literature review and combed through articles published from 2000 to 2022 in the contexts of Nigeria. The objective of this study is to highlight the role that environmental institutions play in managing the environment in Nigeria. There are numerous environmental challenges in Nigeria, including air pollution, water pollution, lead poisoning, poor waste management, deforestation, desertification, wind erosion, and flooding, all of which have harmed the environment and the population. National policies for the sustainable use of the environment include the National Environmental Policy, National Policy on Climate Change, Environmental Impact Assessment Act, Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, and the National Drought Plan. The national regulatory bodies include the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency; the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency; the Federal Ministry of Environment; the Directorate of Petroleum Resources; the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority; the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, among others. The study recommends that the government strengthens the national policies, laws, and regulations on the environment to meet the challenges of the 21st century, strengthens the capacity of environmental law enforcement personnel, and provides necessary logistics to aid in executing their functions. Governments should inject more funds into environmental protection and stakeholder engagement.

KEYWORDS: Environment, Law, Policy, Governance, Nigeria

REFERENCE

  • Akamabe, U.B., & Kpae, G. (2017). A Critique on Nigeria National Policy on Environment: Reasons for Policy Review. IIARD International Journal of Geography and Environmental Management. 3(3): 22-36.
  • Aye, I., & Wingate, E. O. (2019). Nigeria’s flare gas (Prevention of waste & pollution) regulations 2018. Environmental Law Review, 21(2), 119–127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461452919838264
  • Berrang-Ford, L., Ford, J. D., & Paterson, J. (2011). Are we adapting to climate change? Global Environmental Change, 21(1), 25–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2010.09.012
  • Dasgupta, S., DeCian, E., & Verdolini, E. (2016) ‘The Political Economy of Energy Innovation’ 2016/17. Helsinki: UNU-WIDER.
  • Efobi, U., Belmondo, T., Orkoh, E., Atata, S.N., & Akinyemi, O. (2018). Environmental pollution policy of small businesses in Nigeria and Ghana: Extent and impact, AGDI Working Paper, No. WP/18/050, African Governance and Development Institute (AGDI), Yaoundé
  • Ejidae, S.O., Omofuma, & Vivian, C.N. (2017). Environmental law and practice in Nigeria: overview. https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-006-3572?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true#co_anchor_a308764
  • Elenwo, E.I., & Akankali, J.A. (2014). Environmental policies and strategies in Nigeria oil and gas industry: Gains, challenges and prospects. Natural Resources. 5: 884-896
  • Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) (2016). National Policy on Environment. Federal Minstry of Environment, Abuja.
  • Ifesinachi, O.Y. (2018). The effects of oil pollution on the marine environment in the Gulf of Guinea—the Bonga Oil Field example, Transnational Legal Theory, 9:3-4, 254-271, DOI: 10.1080/20414005.2018.1562287
  • Kankara, A.I. (2013). Examining Environmental Policies and Laws in Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Engineering and Management, Vol. 4(3), pp. 165-170
  • Najam, A., Papa, M., & Taiyab, N. (2006). Global Environmental Governance: A Reform Agenda. International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada.
  • Nicholas, O., Ernest, N. A., & Bobadoye, A. (2016). Review of policies, legislations and institutions for biodiversity information in sub – Saharan Africa. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 8(6), 126–137. https://doi.org/10.5897/ijbc2015.0938
  • Okafor-Yarwood, I. (2018). The effects of oil pollution on the marine environment in the Gulf Of Guinea—The bonga oil field example. Transnational Legal Theory, 9(3–4), 254–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/20414005.2018.1562287
  • Oluwaseyi, A. (2017). The Prospects of Agriculture in Nigeria: How Our Fathers Lost Their Way – A Review. Asian Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting, 4(2), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajeba/2017/35973
  • Omotehinse, A. O., & Ako, B. D. (2019). The environmental implications of the exploration and exploitation of solid minerals in Nigeria with a special focus on Tin in Jos and Coal in Enugu. Journal of Sustainable Mining, 18(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsm.2018.12.001
  • Oruonye, E.D & Ahmed, Y.M. (2020). The role of enforcement in environmental protection in Nigeria. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 07(01): 048–056
  • Osawe, A.I., & Magnus, O.O. (2016). Environmental Governance in Nigeria: The Community Perspective. Public Policy and Administration, 6(2): 24-30
  • Public Health Nigeria (2022). List of environmental agencies in Nigeria and their functions. https://www.publichealth.com.ng/list-of-environmental-agencies-in-nigeria-and-their-functions/#:~:text=Environmental%20agencies%20are%20federal%2C%20state,by%20individuals%2C%20organizations%20and%20governments.
  • Roos, N., Heinicke, X., Guenther, E., & Guenther, T. W. (2020). The role of environmental management performance in higher education institutions. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020655
  • UNEP (2017). Introduction to environmental governance. https://globalpact.informea.org/sites/default/files/documents/International%20Environmental%20Governance.pdf
  • United Nations (2018). Bamako Convention: Preventing Africa from becoming a dumping ground for toxic wastes.https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/bamako-convention-preventing-africa-becoming-dumping-ground
  • Urhobo Historical Society (2006)- Nigeria’s Environmental Treaties and Conventions http://www.waado.org/environment/environemntal-treaties/nig.
  • Wonah, E.I. (2017). The state, environmental policy and sustainable development in Nigeria. Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 5(3): 25-40
  • Young, O. R. (2003). Environmental Governance: The Role of Institutions in Causing and Confronting Environmental Problems. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 3(4), 377–393. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:inea.0000005802.86439.39

Download Full Paper Here (Right-Click and Save As)