09/07/2026
"Of Shrinking Civic Space and Ungoverned Environmental Spaces in Nigeria"
At this time of the Nigerian democratic expirement, it is rather an unfortunate narrative that as a nation, we are still grappling with two interconnected governance challenges: the shrinking of civic space and the expansion of ungoverned environmental spaces - something we would have thought an anathema under even the most repressive military regimes.
These twin challenges threaten environmental protection, sustainable development, security, and democratic governance.
Civic space is the environment that enables citizens, civil society organizations, journalists, and communities to freely exercise their rights to expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Ungoverned environmental spaces, on the other hand, are areas where government presence, regulation, and law enforcement are weak or absent.
In recent years, civic space has continued to shrink through the intimidation of activists, the harassment of journalists, restrictions on civil society organizations, and limited public participation in environmental decision making. Communities affected by extractive pollution, deforestation, illegal mining, and oil exploration often struggle to raise their concerns or hold governments and corporations accountable. Fear of retaliation, Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, commonly known as SLAPPs, and limited access to justice allow environmental destruction to continue unchecked.
At the same time, vast forests, wetlands, coastal regions, and border communities remain poorly governed, often because of the presence of armed groups, bandits, or terrorists. These areas have become hotspots for illegal logging, artisanal and illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and indiscriminate waste disposal. The result is severe ecological damage and the destruction of local livelihoods.
These two challenges reinforce one another. When citizens and civil society cannot monitor environmental abuses or advocate for reform, environmental crimes flourish. Likewise, where governance is absent, communities are left without the institutions needed to protect their rights and natural resources.
The consequences extend far beyond environmental degradation. Biodiversity loss, soil erosion, water pollution, desertification, and climate related risks threaten food security, public health, and economic stability. Environmental insecurity also fuels conflicts between farmers and herders, displaces communities, and intensifies competition over scarce natural resources, particularly in regions already affected by insurgency and organized crime.
Addressing these challenges requires strengthening both democratic governance and environmental protection. Government must safeguard citizens' constitutional rights, protect freedom of expression, and create an enabling environment for civil society organizations to operate effectively. Environmental regulatory institutions should be adequately funded, independent, and empowered to enforce environmental laws.
Technology, such as satellite monitoring, Geographic Information Systems, drone surveillance, and community based reporting, can strengthen environmental oversight. Collaboration among government agencies, local communities, traditional institutions, academic institutions, and civil society organizations is equally essential for effective environmental governance.
Finally, tackling poverty and unemployment in environmentally vulnerable communities is critical. Sustainable livelihood programmes, environmental education, and community based natural resource management can reduce dependence on illegal resource exploitation while promoting conservation and improving local economic opportunities.
-Barr. Chima Williams
Executive Director, Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN)
2022 Goldman Environmental Prize Winner for Africa
