Legal Pluralism and the Protection and Management of Cultural Landscapes in Nigeria

Abstract

The protection and management of cultural heritage are central issues of discourse in cultural resources management today. Cultural landscapes constitute part of non-renewable resources that are finite and therefore need to be protected. All over the world especially, in Nigeria, archaeological sites and resources are neglected and to a large extent destroyed due to the inability of the public, stakeholders, educationists, and developers to appreciate the enormous contributions of cultural landscapes to national development. The laws that have been put in place for the protection and management of cultural landscapes, particularly those that prevent them from being destroyed by construction companies and other development projects, are not fully implemented. This paper intends to draw the attention of relevant Nigerian authorities to the applicable laws and the need to enforce them. This will ensure that development does not result in the unmitigated destruction of archaeological sites and cultural heritage.