Nigeria: Environment

The Nigerian economy is heavily driven by fossil fuels and hydrocarbons, despite its net-zero and decarbonisation targets for 2060. This creates a dilemma, given the difficulty of reducing emissions while existing hydrocarbon infrastructure remains economically significant

Gas flaring has been a source of pollution in the Niger Delta region for more than six decades, polluting the atmosphere the soil, and eroding the lives of communities living in one of the most oil-rich regions in Africa. The Nigerian government's efforts at solving this environmental problem have been characterized by delay and capture. The enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act 20212 represents the most ambitious legislative attempt yet to bring routine flaring to an end, through an explicit statutory prohibition, mandatory monetisation planning, and a new institutional architecture anchored around the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

Nigeria's energy industry is at the intersection of massive economic aspirations and significant environmental threats. The Niger Delta has been subjected to decades of oil extraction, which have left it mired in some of the world's worst pollution crises, but the individual corporate directors have escaped liability for the devastation that their companies wreak on the environment.

Environmental justice extends far beyond basic environmental protection, encompassing fairness, equality, and equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across all communities. Dr Udenna Chukwulobe of Olisa Agbakoba Legal examines widespread misconceptions about environmental justice in Nigeria, from its geographic scope to its relationship with economic development and constitutional rights.

This piece is angled from the position that platforms for cooperation & collaboration already exist for resilience sustainability in facing climate challenges for Africa. The mission is therefore to highlight some hidden pillars that need three “As”- Activation, Advocacy and Action.

Carbon credits have evolved far beyond simple environmental offsets into commercially valuable intangible assets that influence billion-dollar transactions and raise critical questions around commercial law, private property, and taxation. This examination reveals why these instruments deserve attention not merely as environmental tools, but as assets with significant legal, commercial and tax implications in modern commerce.

Environmental justice in Nigeria extends far beyond oil spills and conservation, touching every sector from mining to waste management. Yet persistent myths continue to shape how businesses assess risk, how regulators enforce compliance, and how communities understand their legal rights. What are the seven most dangerous misconceptions about environmental justice that could be costing your organization in regulatory exposure, investor confidence, and stakeholder trust?

Nigeria's Constitution grants the National Assembly investigative powers to support lawmaking and expose corruption, but recent cases reveal legislative committees increasingly overstepping...

In October 2025, Lagos State authorities sealed multiple supermarkets for violating single-use plastic bans, marking a decisive shift from policy guidance to enforceable legal action. What does this enforcement wave mean for FMCG businesses navigating Nigeria's evolving environmental compliance landscape?