CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN NIGERIA: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF SALIENT ISSUES

Abstract

The issue of climate change presents one of the greatest challenges of our time, significantly impacting human rights. In Nigeria, the nexus between climate change and human rights is obvious, as communities deal with frequent flooding, desertification, migration and other issues caused by climate change. This paper critically considers the salient issues surrounding climate change and human rights protection in Nigeria, highlighting the legal and policy frameworks. These instruments offer ways to protect the environment, but problems like poor enforcement, dependence on fossil fuels, constitutional limits and a failure to include human rights in climate policies reduce their effectiveness. The paper shows that climate change affects fundamental rights such as the right to life, property, health and freedom of religion. It argues for integrating human rights into climate change strategies, strengthening institutions and the judiciary, and promoting a rights based approach to environmental policy. The paper concludes that without urgent reforms and policy integration, Nigeria’s climate challenges will continue to worsen human rights violations, affecting both present and future generations.