The Legal Framework for the Protection of Environmental Rights In Nigeria

The earth, being in need of protection from both natural and man-made elements, has raised issues requiring global attention. This has necessitated this paper, which explored the existence of the right to a safe and healthy environment and its applicability in Nigeria. It also examined the right to a safe and healthy environment as forming part of other constitutional rights, since it is not expressly provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the legal framework for the protection of environmental rights in Nigeria. The methodology adopted in this research was doctrinal. Both primary and secondary sources were employed in carrying in this paper. The findings of this research are embedded in the discovery of the lack of an outright constitutional provision of the human right to a safe and healthy environment and the effect of this fact being mitigated by the provisions of Article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples¿ Right (Ratification & Enforcement) Act. It was recommended inter alia that, the right to a safe and healthy environment be drafted into the Constitution as forming part of the Bill of Rights.