Olisa Agbakogba Legal (OAL) said it is poised to seek ways to address governance and environmental justice in Nigeria. The firm made this commitment at the launching of its two publications titled, ‘Shaping Nigeria’s Future: Critical governance issues for 2024 and beyond’ and the ‘Simplified manual on environmental justice in Nigeria’.
The aim of the publications, it said, is to raise awareness about the issues facing Nigeria, such as governance challenges and environmental injustice, and to encourage public engagement and dialogue.
Partner, OAL, Babatunde Ogungbamila said: “We often hear people say lack of political will on the part of the government. This has been so because of a lack of pressure from the citizens themselves, possibly because they lack an understanding of the issues.
“This is the reason the two groundbreaking publications are for everybody, not just for certain people or those in government. We urge every Nigerian to take time and read the publications. It is part of the OAL’s contributions to the good of our country.”
Speaking about the publications, the head of government and public sector practice, OAL, Collins Okeke said: “It is imperative to address the most pressing governance challenges facing our nation. The first publication provides an in-depth analysis of 10 key areas such as political, constitutional, regulatory, and administrative among others.
“The report highlights the need for the National Assembly to work closely with the Executive to develop a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound implementation plan that prioritises revenue generation, job creation, poverty reduction and economic growth.”
Okeke explained that the publications emphasise the importance of reviewing and reforming existing laws and regulations to align them with Nigeria’s current realities and aspirations.
The report, he said, calls for a collaborative approach between the legislature, executive, private sector, civil society and development partners to ensure effective implementation.
He added that the report also stresses the need for the national assembly to lead by example in terms of transparency, accountability and integrity. Okeke explained further that the second publication is a resource to empower communities, activists, lawyers and policymakers in the fight against environmental injustice.
“The manual provides a comprehensive overview of environmental justice issues in Nigeria, including oil pollution, gas flaring, deforestation, flooding, and policy frameworks for environmental protection, highlighting key national laws, regional treaties and international agreements,” he said. He further stressed the pivotal role that access to knowledge plays in combating systemic inequality, discrimination and environmental injustice.
