To address the environmental issues in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, the CRUX Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development Foundation (CERADF) is urging Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reinstate environmental courts and tribunals. They recently sent a letter to the minister outlining this request.
CERADF believes that reactivating these courts is essential. They emphasize the need for a central Environmental Court within the High Court and tribunals in all six Area Councils. This initiative aims to tackle the growing environmental crisis effectively.
In May 2022, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) introduced mobile courts to handle environmental violations. However, CERADF pointed out that this approach has not been sufficient. Their recent field studies in various neighborhoods, including Gwarinpa and Utako, show rampant waste issues, poor sanitation, and overwhelmed waste management systems. These problems have led to blocked drains, recurrent flooding, and public health risks like increased rodent populations.
The situation has tainted Abuja’s reputation as Nigeria’s political hub and highlighted flaws in the current enforcement of environmental laws. Slow court processes and weak penalties further complicate the matter. According to experts, implementing a dedicated judicial framework could streamline processes, allowing for quicker resolutions and firmer consequences for environmental violations.
Public awareness programs are ongoing, but CERADF stresses that these efforts need support from a well-structured legal system for meaningful change.
In this context, a 2022 survey revealed that 67% of residents felt environmental issues severely impacted their quality of life, underscoring the urgency of the situation. With effective courts in place, the hope is to foster a cleaner, healthier environment, not just for today, but for future generations as well.
For more on Nigeria’s environmental efforts, check out the Abuja Environmental Protection Board’s official site.
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Environmental court,Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Nyesom Wike
