Environmental Justice, Multinational Corporations, and Nigeria’s Obligations Under International Environmental Law

The operations of multinational corporations (MNCs) in resource-rich developing countries frequently generate environmental harms that fall disproportionately on marginalized and indigenous communities, raising profound questions about the adequacy of international environmental law and host state obligations in ensuring environmental justice. Nigeria, home to extensive oil extraction activities by some of the world's largest energy MNCs, confronts significant challenges in reconciling foreign investment attraction with its international environmental commitments. This study examines Nigeria's obligations under international environmental law frameworks, including the Rio Principles, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and relevant human rights treaties, in regulating MNC environmental conduct, with particular reference to the Niger Delta and Enugu-area solid mineral extraction zones. Scholars from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka contribute theoretical and empirical insights, with the research drawing on faculty publications and interviews. Environmental governance theory and corporate social responsibility frameworks serve as analytical tools. Findings indicate that existing international environmental law frameworks are insufficiently binding on MNC conduct, particularly in the absence of a comprehensive business and human rights treaty with enforcement mechanisms. Nigeria's domestic environmental regulatory institutions face resource, independence, and enforcement capacity challenges that limit their ability to translate international obligations into effective compliance requirements. The study recommends Nigeria champion the development of binding international instruments on business and human rights, while simultaneously strengthening domestic environmental enforcement agencies. Keywords: environmental justice, multinational corporations, international environmental law, Nigeria, corporate accountability