ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is confronted with escalating environmental challenges such as oil pollution, deforestation, desertification, urban waste crises, and biodiversity loss, which undermine both ecological stability and human well-being. While global discussions on sustainable development emphasize the integration of ethical, ecological, and economic concerns, Nigeria’s environmental discourse often remains restricted to policy and technocratic frameworks with minimal philosophical reflection. This article examines the role of environmental philosophy in shaping a more holistic approach to sustainable development in Nigeria. It situates the analysis within global theoretical traditions such as deep ecology and biocentrism, while also engaging African eco-philosophical perspectives rooted in communalism, Ubuntu, and harmony with nature. The paper argues that environmental philosophy provides critical ethical insights by addressing intergenerational justice, human–nature relationships, and the moral obligation to protect ecological integrity. Drawing on examples from the Niger Delta’s ecological crises, northern desertification, and urban waste management, the study demonstrates that unsustainable exploitation of natural resources not only degrades the environment but also undermines social justice and human dignity. The article further proposes a normative framework that integrates environmental ethics into governance, education, and policy, emphasizing renewable energy, environmental education, and indigenous knowledge systems as pathways to resilience. It concludes that embedding environmental philosophy in Nigeria’s sustainable development strategies is indispensable for achieving ecological justice, cultural renewal, and intergenerational responsibility.