Environmental Nuisance Laws in Nigeria:Making them Effective for Sustainable Development

In the history of human social institutions there often arises need to reappraise the basic principles upon which such institutions rest. This probative inquiry into the laws will determine whether its growth is progressive, retrogressive or static especially in the face of obvious dissatisfaction with its present state and apparent potentials which can be used in the sustenance of the environment in Nigeria. It reviewed environmental nuisance critically in the light of the populace level of awareness, the practice and enforcement of these laws with the view to show that the cause of a healthy and wholesome environment would be greatly furthered by the enlisting of ordinary individuals and groups for proper mobilization and awareness regarding environmental nuisance laws. Case laws, statutes and literature review were done while interviews with employees of the Environmental Protection Agencies and members of the Nigerian public were conducted. The review indicates a general low level environmental education on the part of the populace, among other problems besetting the effectiveness of the environmental nuisance law in Nigeria. Implications of these findings were discussed in order to make the nuisance law a tool for sustainable environment. The paper recommends among other things a strict enforcement of the existing laws which must be reviewed to make them abreast with the exigencies of the 21st century economic and other realities in Nigeria. Furthermore, the establishment by law of a Stock breeding and marketing outfits in every State and ward is proposed, aimed at curtailing the practice of roaming of animals and resultant littering of fecal waste.