Optimizing Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making in Nigeria

Abstract

The environment is an essential public treasure whose use and management affects the public. The public therefore has a right to be involved in decisions affecting them and the environment(UNEP 2009). The concept of public participation as a legal procedure in policy design and environmental governance is advancing. In most democratic developed countries, public participation has become an established and operative procedural requirements conducted in environmental decision making processes in order to strengthen democratic environmental governance, provide accountability, transparency and inclusive participation in environmental matters.Unfortunately in developing countries, it is not so. This research critically examined the process of public participation in environmental decision making in Nigeria. By utilizing a World Bank approved EIA for one of the projects the organisation sponsored in Nigeria, the research explored the extent of opportunities granted to the public in environmental decision making. It also analysed existing regulatory frameworks to identify key barriers to achieving effective public participation programs. Another accomplishment of this study is the comparison of national policy and regulation on public participation with international best practices, which helped to identify gaps for which recommendations for improvement were provided.The study revealed that public participation in Nigeria is still a developing process with a lot of challenges in terms of economic development to support the growing population and inconsistent regulatory framework. To be able to meet international standards, the scope of the policy and regulation will need to be restructured and revised to cover a comprehensive strategy and inclusive mechanisms. While the research focuses its review on current public participation process in environmental decision making in Nigeria, the findings is feasibly applicable to other developing countries hoping to reshape and improve current tools and practices for improved public participation in environmental decision making processes.