pajms_pharm | 10 December 2005
A Systematic Review of Nigerian Environmental Protection Legislation: An African Legal Analysis, 2005
C, h, i, n, w, e, O, k, o, n, k, w, o, ,, A, d, e, b, a, y, o, A, d, e, y, e, m, i, ,, I, f, e, o, m, a, N, w, a, c, h, u, k, w, u
Abstract
Background:
A research gap exists within African Studies regarding the analysis of African legal frameworks for environmental protection in Nigeria. This systematic review addresses that gap by examining the specific legislative landscape within the defined timeframe.
Purpose and objectives:
The purpose is to systematically analyse Nigerian environmental protection legislation enacted or in force during 2005. The objectives are to clarify the core characteristics of the legal framework, identify its documented strengths and limitations, and outline implications for both scholarship and policy formulation within the field.
Methodology:
A systematic literature review was conducted. Relevant scholarly works from 2005 were identified and selected according to pre‑defined criteria. The data extracted from these sources were analysed using a thematic synthesis methodology.
Findings:
The analysis identified persistent structural constraints within the Nigerian legal framework, including issues of enforcement capacity and regulatory overlap. Concurrently, the review noted emerging local institutional innovations documented in the literature. The available evidence, however, was found to be unevenly distributed across different environmental sectors and geographical contexts.
Conclusion:
The review concludes that the effectiveness of environmental legislation in Nigeria during this period was fundamentally shaped by specific contextual challenges. It argues for future research to develop more nuanced, context‑specific analyses and to establish stronger empirical foundations.
Recommendations:
Policy makers and implementing agencies should prioritise inclusive, locally‑grounded regulatory strategies. Furthermore, a concerted effort is required to improve the transparency and systematic collection of environmental compliance and enforcement data.
Key words:
African legal frameworks, environmental protection, Nigeria, environmental legislation, systematic review, African Studies
Contribution statement:
This review provides a consolidated analysis of Nigerian environmental protection legislation within the 2005 context, offering a foundation for comparative African legal scholarship and evidence‑informed policy discussion.