Law and the Reconstruction of The Environment in Nigeria for Socio-Economic Development

References

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[2] Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. Retrieved from https://msmd.gov.ng

[3] Masogemstones, Historical Background of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Sector

[4] Siollum, Max. (2009) Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria’s Military Coup Culture (1966-1976). New York, USA: Algora Publishing. P.168

[5] Ibid

[6] Ogoni: Timeline of the Ogoni Struggle. Unrepresented Nations and People. Retrieved from https://unpo.org

[7] Walton, Adele. Remembering the Ogoni nine. Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2026 from https://tribunemag.co.uk

[8] United Nations Environment Program. Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland Report. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org

[9] United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Ogoniland Oil Assessment Reveals Extent of Environmental Contamination and Threats to Human Health. UNEP Climate Diplomacy. Retrieved from https://climate-diplomacy.org

[10] Ibid

[11] Shell Oil Spills Protests in Bodo-Eden Demands Accountability over Environmental Damage. Retrieved May 24,2026 from https://nigerianupdates.com/shell-oil-spill-protest-in-bodo-eden-demands-accountability-over-environmental-damage

[12] Abdulkareem, Mojeed.(2026, April 1) Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Reserves hit 37bn barrels, 215TCR-NUPRC, Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission. Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved May 24, 2026 from https://www.premiumtimesng.com; Nigeria’s oil reserves dipped as of January, gas rose to 215 TCF (2026, April 1) The Punch Newspapers. Retrieved May 24, 2026 from https://punchng.com

[13] Shell Documents Expose Scale of Illegal Pipelines Connections in Niger Delta, Reveal 140 Taps Removed in 2012 as 90 Remained Active. The Nigeria Lawyer Retrieved May 6, 2026 from https://thenigerialawyer.com/shell-documents-expose-scale-of-illegal-pipelines-connections-in-niger-delta-reveal-140-taps-removed-in-2012-as-90-remained--active-/#goggle

[14] Recent developments in Midstream Oil and Gas under the Petroleum Industry Act. The Firm Advisory. Retrieved May 30, 2026 from https://thefirmadvisory.com

[15] Nigeria: The Travesty of Oil (n1)

[16] Abdulsamad, Ahmad. Strengthening Emissions Reduction in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector. Natural Resource Governance Institute. Retrieved May 30, 2026 from https://resourcegovernance.org

[17] ibid

[18] Fuel Tanker Explosion Leaves at least 150 Dead in Nigeria,(2024, October 17). The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2026 from Https://www.nytimes.com; See also Abubakar, Mansur. Fire Kills 153 People after fuel tanker crash in Nigeria (2024, October 17). BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com

[19] Top 12 States with the Highest Mineral Resources in Nigeria. Nigerian Minerals Exchange. Retrieved from https://nigerianmineralexchange.com

[20] Mason, S.M; Marcus, M.D; Dodo, J.D; and Bulus, A.D (2016). Environmental Costs of Exploiting Solid Minerals in Nigeria: A Review. Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences. Retrieved from https://doi:10.9734/JGEESI/2016/26855

[21] Esheya, S.E and Awolumate, S (2025) Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of Solid Mineral Exploitation on Fisheries in Imo State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research, 18(1). Retrieved June 25, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.62154/018.010652

[22] World Food Programme. UN World Food Programme. Retrieved from https://www.wfp.org

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[24] Asari, N and David, R (2025), In Nigeria’s Water Tug of War, Cleanliness and Access Collude. Nigeria Health Watch. Retrieved May 7, 2026 from https://articles.nigeriahealthwatch.com

[25] 1972 Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Proclamation 2.

[26] Ibid, Principle 8

[27] The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), Rio de Janeiro, 1992

[28] Ibid, principle 4

[29] Ibid , principle 8

[30] Indicators of Economic Development, Economics Help. Retrieved June 6, 2026 from https://www.economicshelp.org

[31] World Bank Open Data. Retrieved June 6, 2026 from https://data.worldbank.org

[32] Roads and Environment Handbook. World Bank: ROADEX Environmental Consideration. Retrieved from https://www.roadex.org

[33] Definition and Scope of Protective Measures for Roads.Food and Agricultural Organisation. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org

[34] Garner, B.A (8th edition), Black’s Law Dictionary (Thomas Reuters, 2009) 1387

[35] Lifestyle –Sustainability-Directory. Retrieved from https://lifestyle-sustainability-directory.com

[36] ibid

[37] Adebayo, W.A (2017), Contemporary Issues in International Environmental Law, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria: Ekiti State University Press. p.7

[38] Environmental Landscape Review, prospects for 2026.Blueprint Newspapers. Retrieved from https://blueprint.ng

[39] National Planning Commission (2005). National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) Central Bank of Nigeria. p.31

[40] Esen, C. UNEP’s Ogoni (2009, April 17) Cleanup Project ends 2023. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng

[41] Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP). Ogoni Cleanup Programme: Enabling Pathways to Development of Ogoni. Retrieved June 6, 2026 from https://hyprep.gov.ng

[42] Principle 5 of the Rio Conference (n27)

[43] Harmful Waste (Special Criminal provisions, etc.) Decree 42 of 1988, now Cap H1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004

[44] Cap E2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004

[45] Cap O6, Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004

[46] Cap S4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004

[47] Cap W2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004

[48] Cap E9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria , 2004

[49] Retrieved from https://www.guardian.com; See also Adebayo, W.A (2023)Pathfinder Environmental Law. Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria: Peerless Prints and Publishing(p.212)

[50] Fitches, K. Water/Nigeria, Interactive Country. Retrieved May 29, 2026 from https://dicf.un-epgrid.ch

[51] World Bank.(2021) International Development Association Restructuring Paper on a proposed Program for Restructuring of Nigeria Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Program . Approved on 25 May, 2021 to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Retrieved from https://documents1worldbank.org

[52] Ochojika, A. (2024, April 10). 179m Nigerians in dire straits, lack of access to portable water nationwide. The Guardian Newspapers. Retrieved June 24, 2026 from https://guaardian.ng; See also Vanguard News. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com

@article{1719967,
      author = {W. A. Adebayo, A. O. Adeniyi, F. D Moronkeji, C. C. Akparanta},
      title = {Law and the Reconstruction of The Environment in Nigeria for Socio-Economic Development},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {1},
      pages = {3097-3109},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1719967.pdf},
      abstract = {The environment in its natural order is strategic for socio-economic development, hence the global concern for the protection of the environment. In Nigeria, the case of the environment is no longer for protection but rather, it is a demand for the reconstruction of the environment already degraded by anthropogenic forces. To say that the environment is bleeding is an understatement, the earth environment in Nigeria is due for intensive care because of the chronic degradation by anthropogenic forces. Ecological balance of biosphere is disturbed frequently by inter-alia, environmental pollution, indiscriminate disposal of waste, flooding, erosion, deforestation, global warming and climate change. The focus of this study is how law can be deployed for the reconstruction of the environment for socio-economic development. The study is doctrinal and the data were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources of data are treaties, statutes, regulations and judicial decisions while the secondary sources of data include text books, articles, newspapers and internet materials. The study found that the scars of environmental degradation which are visible are the barriers against socio-economic development.  Reversing the trend, the study concluded the strict enforcement of laws and the mobilization of the people to participate in the task of reconstruction to eliminate the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. It is recommended that the preventive and precautionary approach should be adopted for post-reconstruction management of the environment},
      keywords = {Reconstruction, Degradation, Hazardous, Regeneration, Biosphere.},
      month = {July},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719967}
  }