They made this appeal during a stakeholder engagement dialogue organized by Social Action to examine environmental justice and the role of young lawyers in leading reforms and accountability.
Leading the discussion, Professor Samuel Dike of the Department of Energy and Environmental Law at Rivers State University stated that environmental justice requires the meaningful participation of residents in decision-making processes that affect their environment.
He expressed regret that, despite many laws in place, the political willingness to enforce them was often lacking.
“Law is important; law is primary. You may dislike law, yet law is a vital tool in fostering environmental justice, in promoting remedial justice, and in building a healthier, pollution-free society. When you consider section 20 together with chapter four of the 1999 constitution – because all environmental harm now impacts human rights — you can take action against individuals or institutions to address your environmental claims,” he explained.
He emphasized that communities should not be excluded from decisions related to environmental policies, projects, and activities that directly affect their livelihoods, health, and well-being.
He noted that all elements of the environment — including the sun, water, land, wind, flora, fauna, and humans – are interconnected and interdependent. Therefore, any action impacting one element causes ripple effects on others. This interconnectedness underscores the necessity of protecting the environment through legal means.
Prof. Samuel Dike, president of All Environmental Lawyers of Nigeria, highlighted challenges young lawyers face, such as poverty, limited time, delays in justice, and lack of funding.
“These are some of the factors limiting young lawyers. But beyond that, a lawyer can achieve environmental justice through advocacy,” he added.
Dike also proposed establishing an oil and gas court to handle cases arising from oil spills and gas emissions in the Niger Delta, given the technical complexity and specific expertise required, which only lawyers and judges familiar with such matters can effectively handle.
Additionally, Chuks Uguru advised young lawyers to be patient, learn from experienced colleagues, and equip themselves with the right knowledge, language, and conduct in pursuit of success.
He downplayed hopes of imminent systemic change in Nigeria, encouraging young lawyers not to give up but to find opportunities within current challenges and leverage them to reach their goals, especially in promoting environmental justice.
In his opening remarks, Zudonu Anumekanume Onisoman, Programme Officer of Legal and Access to Justice at Social Action, described environmental justice as a critical part of the legal ecosystem that demands urgent attention due to the harmful effects of pollution on affected communities.
He stressed the need for lawyers who understand the importance of harmony with the environment and inclusivity in decision-making.
“Environmental justice is also a legal space. And it is a space that is going to require people who are willing to understand not just the law, but the science, the communities, the politics, the economics, and the power relationships surrounding environmental harm.
We need lawyers who can move comfortably between a community meeting and a courtroom.
Between legislation and lived experience. Between legal research and advocacy. And we need lawyers who understand that access to justice is not only about getting someone through the doors of a court. It is also about whether people can participate in decisions that affect them. Whether their voices are taken seriously. Whether they can obtain information. Whether they can afford legal representation. Whether they can prove what happened to them. Whether institutions respond when they complain. And whether the remedy, when it finally comes, actually restores dignity and improves their lives,” he explained.
The program facilitator, Barr Arochukwu Paul Ogbonna, noted that one major cause of environmental crises in Niger Delta communities and difficulties in resolving some of these through courts has been neglect of traditional community ways.
He observed that Nigeria’s legal education system, modeled after the British system, poses additional challenges by not incorporating native governance practices.
He also pointed out that beyond hydrocarbon pollution, other environmental hazards across Nigeria should be included in discussions, given their destructive potential.
“As we do this discussion, let us include the developments and happenings in other parts of the country which are life-threatening and which are going to be worse because those can lead to an earthquake. They’re already frustrating the traditional economy. So let us expand our coast in that discussion while we’re talking about environmental issues,” he concluded.
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