IRENE AIREN AIGBE

Climate change and sustainable development are currently topics of global repute. Anthropological activities aimed at achieving socio- economic advancement take a toll on environmental health culminating in climate change and threatening sustainable development. Climate change is possibly the sole glaring challenge confronting sustainable development. It is a problem with a nexus to civilization, industrialization and economic advancement. Hence, calculated action must be taken to address climate change. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 cum Agenda 2030 represents a ray of hope, envisaging a world where environmental sustainability, equity and prosperity cohabit, in contrast to the current situation where the world wrestles with unprecedented challenges. This paper examines the machinery in place for attaining SDG 13 in Nigeria premised on taking action to combat climate change, progress made and inherent challenges to the actualization of SDG 13. It assesses the state of achievement of SDG 13 targets such as increase in resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related disasters in Nigeria, promotion of education and awareness, strengthening of human and institutional capacity with respect to climate change mitigation and adaptation, early warnings and impact reduction. The research methodology employed is the Doctrinal legal research method, referencing primary and secondary sources of law, online journals as well as online materials inclusive of data obtained from international websites, SDG Progress Reports and dashboards. The study comparatively analyses Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021 with climate change Acts from Denmark and the United Kingdom. Pursuant to their positive rankings in the Climate Change Performance Index 2025, Nigeria can draw lessons from their climate change action. The paper finds inter alia, that climate change is occasioned by natural as well as anthropological unsustainable practices that exploit the environment; climate change has cross-sectoral impact in Nigeria beyond affecting environmental mediums; Nigeria has a multiplicity of framework to address climate change nationally and internationally; despite the fact that she does not experience a dearth of policies, gaps exist in implementation owing to a number of factors including insufficient funding to engage in impactful climate action, lack of coordination amongst government agencies, limited climate literacy and lack of political will of the government thereby prioritizing economic interests and relegating climate action aspirations to the realm of verbal platitudes. The study recommends inter alia, adequate funding; improved coordination amongst agencies; increased climate literacy; sincerity and political support for climate plans and programmes in order to achieve SDG 13 in Nigeria as well as the prioritization of environmental health by diversifying from extreme reliance on fossil fuel to drive the energy sector.

The question of the existence of a right to die by euthanasia also referred to as mercy killing and assisted suicide is one that goes beyond national boundaries and diverse legal systems. The dominant legal regime around the world is that euthanasia and assisted suicide is unlawful and criminalized. However, with advancements in medical technology leading to remarkably greater ability to sustain and prolong human life far beyond what was previously thought possible, coupled with corresponding growth in human right law, many countries such as Belgium, Netherlands, etc. have legalized the acts of euthanasia and assisted suicide. There is no doubt that there is global acceptance of a right to life. The question that is the bedrock of the euthanasia controversy is whether or not there is also conversely a right to die. This paper explores whether a right to die could be inferred from constitutional guarantees of dignity and autonomy, particularly in cases of terminal illness or unbearable suffering. It evaluates global perspectives, contrasting Nigeria’s stance with jurisdictions where euthanasia is legalized under strict conditions, such as the Netherlands and Belgium. Ethical dilemmas, including patient autonomy, medical ethics, and societal implications, are critically assessed alongside potential legal reforms. The analysis highlights the absence of explicit euthanasia legislation in Nigeria and the judiciary’s limited engagement with the issue. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a balanced approach, proposing a national dialogue to address legal ambiguities while respecting Nigeria’s socio-cultural context, ensuring that any reform aligns with constitutional protections and human rights principles.

Concession has been acknowledged as a valuable tool for Nigeria authority to retain control and shape the supply side of the terminal market, in the absence of full privatization. A Concession is a practice which involves an agreement or a compromise where one side usually a public authority grants a franchisee the right to own, build, finance, upgrade, maintain or operate a public infrastructure, and charge users for the cost of services for a limited period of time under a contractual agreement. This study explores the impact of concessioning on the Nigerian economy, focusing on key sectors such as transport, power, and ports. It highlights how concessioning has led to improved service delivery, increased private sector investment, and job creation. However, a further investigation into the study examines the unintended consequences (otherwise known as the dark side) of privatization of Public Enterprise (PEs) in Nigeria, such as: unemployment due to mass retrenchment of staff, low standard of living resulting from exorbitant price of products and /or service from privatized enterprises, overconcentration of income and wealth in a few hands, regulatory inconsistencies, weak institutional frameworks,
stakeholder resistance, corrupt practices among others. The findings suggest that when
effectively implemented, concessioning can significantly enhance infrastructure development and stimulate economic activity, however, policy makers in Nigeria are to determine the level of confidence they would place in privatization. Policy recommendations include strengthening regulatory oversight as relate to concession, ensuring transparency in the concession process, and enhancing stakeholder engagement to maximize the socio-economic benefits of concessioning in Nigeria