An Evaluation of the Roles of the Judiciary in the Enforcement of Environmental Laws in Nigeria After Fifty Years of the Stockholm Conference

Abstract

This paper examines the roles of the judiciary in the enforcement of environmental laws in Nigeria fifty years after the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment. Within this period, there has been an increasing use of law as a veritable instrument for the protection of the environment worldwide. In a bid to fulfil its Stockholm obligations, the Nigerian government has enacted series of laws geared towards environmental protection. Expectedly, when environmental issues become knotty, it is the judiciary that is called upon for the resolution of conflicts. The judiciary, no doubt, has exceptionally done well in other fields in Nigeria but has not lived up to expectations in environmental litigations. The factors militating against judicial activism towards the environment in Nigeria are identified and thoroughly examined. The paper recommends ways of overcoming the hurdles for improved judicial
performance.