Title: Evaluating the impact of poor waste disposal management on environmental sustainability and human rights in Nigeria

Authors: Olusegun Michael Osinibi

Addresses: Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract: The rapid increase in population and the uncontrolled expansion of Nigerian cities has led to a concomitant rise in the generation of solid waste. The absence of a wholesome policy on solid waste disposal has thus foisted a dire situation raising strong concerns about environmental sustainability in Nigeria. The government's response to waste management has been marked by inadequate or unenforced environmental laws and deficiency of integrated waste management strategies. This paper examines the human rights perspective and argues that government's lackadaisical attitude to waste management is a violation of citizens' fundamental right to dignity of human person and the right to a safe and clean environment. The paper maintains that to avoid a gruesome pandemic caused by improper waste disposal, the government needs to enforce environmental protection laws and accord recognition to environmental rights without which there will be no environmental justice with dreadful consequences for environmental sustainability.

Keywords: environmental justice; environmental rights; environmental sustainability; human rights; environmental pollution; Nigeria; solid waste disposal; waste management; sustainable development; environmental protection.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2014.063657

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2014 Vol.15 No.2/3, pp.147 - 159

Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article