LEGAL EFFECTS OF NATURAL RESOURCES EXPLOITATION ON HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS

Abstract

Our world today has become a global village radically taken over by industrialization and development in every aspect. Although these appear to be steps in the right direction in our quest towards perfection, it is important that steps are also taken to ensure the protection of the rights of humans in this ever-developing world, as failure to do so will put humans and the environment at the risk of a perfect disaster. It is in this regard that there is the development of human and environmental rights. These rights have been protected under various national and international laws, conventions and treaties, all of which are generally aimed at the same objective, which is to set out boundaries and preserve the environment and humanity in the course of environmental exploration and exploitation. Using doctrinal research methodology, this paper examines the legal effects of natural resource exploitation on human and environmental rights, with a focus on the Nigerian context. The research finds that though there are laws protecting human and environmental rights, most of those laws are similar to a toothless bull dog, who only barks but cannot bite. This is because they are non-justiciable, unenforceable, unspecific or too vague, making it difficult for one to institute an action for its enforcement. The paper therefore recommends that Nigeria adopts a rights-based approach to natural resource governance, where human and environmental rights are prioritized alongside economic growth.