Abstract

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) was established in 2007. The major aim of establishing the agency is to ensure that the Nigerian environment is clean and healthy enough for human existence. Over the years, this is scarcely achieved as the state of Nigerian environments is very poor. It is an environmental agency that operates under the Department of Federal Ministry of Environment. NESREA is responsible for enforcing environmental standards for all sectors, except the petroleum sector. NESREA has responsibility for the protection and development of the environment, biodiversity, conservation and sustainable development of Nigeria’s natural resources in general and environmental technology including coordination and liaison with relevant stakeholders within and outside Nigeria. This paper critically examined the fundamental function of the NESREA in enforcing environmental standards vis-à-vis the poor state of the Nigerian environment. This paper was researched through doctrinal legal research technique and a major cause identified was the lack of stringent implementation of environmental laws. This is premised on the fact that the average Nigerian is reluctant in obeying environmental laws due to his overriding selfish developmental interest at the expense of destroying his environment. A stringent implementation of environmental laws is therefore recommended.