Environmental Justice: Reducing ecological and social inequalities through effective and participatory land governance

About LASEPA

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), a parastatal of the State’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, is the environmental regulator for the Lagos State of Nigeria. LASEPA’s objective is in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section II, 20, which states, “The State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria”. LASEPA was established in November 1996 under the LASEPA Edict No. 9 of 1996 (now Environment Management Protection Law 2017 Part VI). The agency aims to protect and improve the environment and assist public and private organisations, industries, businesses, research and educational institutions and non-governmental organisations to achieve compliance by providing environment-friendly solutions to varied environmental challenges.

Local context

At its core, environmental justice is an all-inclusive approach that addresses the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation and pollution on marginalised and vulnerable communities. Nigeria faces several environmental challenges, such as natural disasters, air, water, and land pollution, and natural resource depletion, which are some of the most pressing concerns facing local governments and society as a whole. These environmental changes negatively impact all socio-economic groups and, inappropriately, the vulnerable and marginalised. 

Land is a natural resource that is fundamental to how cities work and societies operate all over the world. It is a critical instrument to help policymakers and urban managers achieve their goals of social equity, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability. Land inequalities tend to increase the impact of environmental challenges. Therefore, it is a major driver of inequality and injustice. It is therefore necessary to delve into the complexities of land use governance and explore how decisions made about natural resources profoundly affect both the environment and communities through the lens of inclusivity and participation. 

Training impact 

The NUFFIC/OKP-sponsored training trained 25 government officials from key ministries and agencies, including the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resource, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Lagos State Parks and Gardens, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, and the Lagos State Lands Bureau.

This training was designed to explore the intricate relationship between environmental sustainability, socio-spatial dynamics, housing and gender complexities, and land governance interplay. In an era where the impacts of climate change and resource exploitation are increasingly evident, the need for equitable and inclusive solutions is more pressing than ever. In the training, case studies, policy frameworks, and successful examples of community engagement to understand how effective land governance a vehicle for positive change and environmental justice can be.

The training highlighted Baruwa, a community severely affected by hydrocarbon contamination from state-owned pipelines since 1999, which pollutes their waters and lands. The training created the platform to engage, which led to a pivotal development: the Lagos Water Corporation initiated a project to restore clean water to Baruwa, marking a significant step toward resolving a long-standing issue.

Learning objectives

At the end of the training, participants were able to reflect and develop an intersectional guideline for the implementation of environmental justice for the city and state of Lagos.

1. Understand environmental justice concepts and principles and their interconnectedness with social justice, good governance, the rule of law and participatory land governance.
2. Critically evaluate the social, economic, and political factors contributing to environmental (in)justice.
3. Review and examine international environmental policies and laws, their strengths, limitations and their intersectionality
4. Reflect on the interrelationship of social justice, gender justice and housing justice to environmental justice.
5. Evaluate equitable and participatory land governance strategies outcomes and their effects on environmental justice
6. Examine sustainability and resilience approaches and practices that address environmental challenges and enable environmental justice.
7. Effectively develop and communicate complex environmental justice concepts, approaches, advocacy strategies and implementation guides to the diverse city’s stakeholders

This training was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Orange Knowledge Programme managed by Nuffic.

Take a glimpse at the training