ABSTRACT

This chapter argues that the need for global action on environment hinges on deepening environmental crisis at global, continental and national levels. It elaborates these problems and, with reference to Nigeria, assesses legal, institutional and economic measures adopted by government to combat the problems in the bid to ensure sustainability in national development process. In literature review, two issues will be discussed and they include environmental crisis and national plans for the control of the use of the environment in Nigeria. Global concern for environmental problems led to the concept of sustainable development. Environmental management deals succinctly with landuse development and management, pollution control, and resource conservation. Two major legislations of nation-wide application provide legal backing for environmental management in Nigeria. They are the Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Decree 88 of 1992 and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Decree 86 of 1992. Structural changes in the institutional tools for environmental management are currently underway in Nigeria.