Human Rights, the Environment and Sustainable Development: Nigerian Women’s Experiences

That, Nigerian women have a right to a healthful, and sustainable environment, conducive to their health, well being and the full development of their human personality, is no longer in doubt. Section 20 of the Nigerian constitution 1999, stipulates that states shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air, land, forest and wide life. Article 24 of the African charter on Human and Peoples Rights specifically provides that all people shall have the rights to a generally satisfactory environment favourable to their development. The African charter has been incorporated to the Nigerian municipal law by the African Charter on Human and People Rights, should it mean that Nigeria women can go to Court and enforced the provisions of the Charter, the questions begging for answer remain; is the Nigeria environment favourable, to the aspirations of the Nigerian women, as regarding human rights and the sustainability of developments? This paper investigates this somewhat topical issue as it builds heavily on the Nigerian environment.