THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS APPROACHES TO
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN
NIGERIA
Oluwatoyin Adejonwo-Osho
University of Dundee
Broken Promise

The history of commitments on gas flaring in
Nigeria has been of “broken promises, shifting
ground and ignored legislation"
The Judiciary

“.....what the judges fail to realise is that
economic development can be compatible with
environmental conservation..”
Gbemre V. Shell

That the constitutionally guaranteed
fundamental rights to life and dignity of
human persons provided by Sections 33(1) and
34(1) of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1999 …….inevitably
includes the right to clean poison-free,
pollution free and healthy environment.
December 2008 Flare out Date?
“The federal government has no deadline for
ending gas flaring in Nigeria”.
Minister of State for Energy (Gas), Mr.
Emmanuel Odushina (Aug 2008)
CDM in Nigeria
“If CDM credits were to be granted in respect
of activities that are violations of human rights,
this would also bring the CDM process into
disrepute…"
Peter Roderick, the co-Director of the
Climate Justice Program in the UK
West African Gas Pipeline
Conclusion