Environmental Challenges and Governance in Nigeria: Issues and Prospects

Abstract: In this essay, we argue that non-implementation of national environmental policies and government ‘s insensitivity to the environmental challenges is the reason for the environmental degradation that has been witnessed for long now.  Though, care for the environment, and well-being, protection, preservation and sustenance of biodiversity is the responsibility of everyone, government leadership, managerial and strategic policies are of great importance.  It is this lack of government patriotic commitment and other factors such as poor environmental awareness, gas flaring, littering of non-biodegradable elements, illegal bunkers and poor environmental management that have been the issues. To avert these environmental menaces, the environmental policies and ethics must be strengthened, to guide the attitudinal disposition of the Nigerian populace towards the environment. Furthermore, we recommend that Nigerian government should develop practical and effective laws and policies at all levels, in ensuring the safety of both human, plant and animal species. When this is done, the decadence and negligence of the environment caused by poor policies, lack of law enforcement and implementation will be addressed.  In all, we demonstrate why the need to protect the environment should be seen as our collective obligations and responsibilities. A hermeneutical method will be employed to showcase the nuances of environmental challenges and its possible solution, for environmental sustainability in Nigeria.