Utilisation of Natural Resources in Nigeria: Human Right Considerations

Oyeniyi O. Abe
Additional contact information
Oyeniyi O. Abe: Oyeniyi O. Abe is a Lecturer in Law at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. o.abe@abuad.edu.ng

India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 2014, vol. 70, issue 3, 257-270

Abstract: Environmental justice continues to be a concept that seemingly eludes our human capability; yet, the economic benefits derivable from exploration and utilisation of the environment are unquantifiable. A brief attempt on environmental rights and its applicability in practice in Nigeria has been carried out in this article. The article analyses the nature of the socio-political impulses at work in ensuring that environmental justice is either hindered or realised. While examining the right to clean environment, this article discusses the culpability of transnational corporations for their acts in environmental degradation. It argues for the enforceability of environmental justice under the constitution and indeed under customary international law. It also examines the implications of several international human right treaties which Nigeria has assented to. The article calls for more punitive measures in environmental statues. Nigeria must adopt international principles aimed at safeguarding the rights and interest of peoples on earth. Not only must there be the means to implement these rights, but also there must be adequate and responsible enforcement mechanisms in place. Government must not only be serious but must also be manifestly seen to be so.

Keywords: Environmental justice; human rights; Nigeria; natural resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://iqq.sagepub.com/content/70/3/257.abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:indqtr:v:70:y:2014:i:3:p:257-270

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().