The sheep’s revolution: Paradox of democratic consolidation and environmental regulations in post-transition Nigeria

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/jglobfaul.9.1.0057
• Pages: 57-68
• Published date: 30 March 2022
• Date: 30 March 2022
• Author: Ayodeji Anthony Aduloju,Temitayo Adedeji Adedoyin
• Subject Matter: democracy,CSOs,environmental regulations,post-transition,environmental sustainability

Journal of Global Faultlines, 2022

Vol. 9, No. 1, 57—68.

57

The sheep’s revolution: Paradox of democratic

consolidation and environmental regulations in post-

transition Nigeria

Ayodeji Anthony Aduloju, Temitayo Adedeji Adedoyin1

Abstract

Over the last 20 years of uninterrupted democratic dispensation in Nigeria, the military regime

has left the post-transition era with certain characteristics such as a low level of participation

away from the center. While many have blamed the central authorities for the constantly

increasing environmental threats, this study argues that the dwindling impact of civil society

organizations (CSOs) on environmental regulation policies remains the missing link between

policy formulation and implementation in Nigeria. This paper investigated the involvement of

environmental CSOs within our democratic space, reflecting on the level of compliance with

environmental regulation laws and the implications of this for environmental sustainability.

This paper adopts both primary and secondary sources of information, and data were analyzed

using a descriptive survey. The study reveals that the Nigerian government sees the CSOs as

partners in ensuring environmental sustainability rather than deploying the CSOs as delivery

agents to enforce environmental regulations and sustainability within the extractive and

non-extractive contexts. This study concludes that, to tackle environmental degradation in

Nigeria, much attention should be placed on environmental securitization advocacies through

independent and effective environmental CSOs.

Keywords: democracy, CSOs, environmental regulations, post-transition, environmental

sustainability

Introduction

With the entry of democratic rule in 1999, the expectations of Nigerians were very high. The

dominant view among the masses was positive compared with the extensive era of military

despotism, where only a tiny fraction could access the doorway to a noble life (Mohamed,

2019). During the military regimes, the aspiration for an inclusive government was strident,

yet the masses continued to be excluded. However, the political space of the country appears

to have been relatively relaxed since the transition to democratic rule. While that elevated the

optimism of some groups that had been stifled, it also raised some noticeable dangers in the

struggle for resources and power which characterized the democratic system. Although

democracy uniquely enhances citizens’ involvement in the government, it is by no means an

end in itself. In most nations, therefore, civil society functions to smooth the process of dem-

ocratic consolidation and peoples’ involvement in governance (Mercer & Green, 2013).

Nkwachukwu (2004) posited a robust connection between democracy, civil society,

and democratic consolidation. Ikelegbe (2005) also refers to civil society “ as the framework

where the citizens interact with the state at all tiers of the government.” Under the current

dispensation in Nigeria, it is expected that some dividends of democracy would flow from

the peak of governance to the base. Such benefits include promoting human rights to health,

education and a decent environment, among others. Rather than the use of force that char-

acterized the military era, rules and regulations, as enshrined and codified in the country’s

DOI:10.13169/jglobfaul.9.1.0057