Our Reporter, Abuja
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal and State Governments to strengthen access to environmental information as a critical tool for addressing Nigeria’s worsening climate and ecological challenges.
The call came on Monday in Lagos during the launch of a new report titled “Access to Environmental Information and the Cost of Ignorance in Nigeria”, released to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).
The report highlights how deforestation, flooding, desertification, oil pollution in the Niger Delta, plastic waste, and declining air and water quality continue to undermine public health, livelihoods, and national stability. It warns that without timely and reliable access to environmental information, citizens cannot effectively participate in governance, defend their rights, or contribute to solutions.
MRA’s Programme Officer, Ms. Ayomide Eweje, noted that while Nigeria has constitutional guarantees, statutory laws, regulatory instruments, and international obligations supporting environmental accountability, poor disclosure practices and weak public demand for information remain obstacles.
“Ensuring access to environmental information is not just about compliance with the law,” she said. “It is about empowering people to protect their health, livelihoods, and environment; hold duty bearers accountable; and build a future where development does not come at the expense of sustainability.”
The report also underscores the potential of digital technology, including artificial intelligence, to enhance environmental monitoring and early warning systems. However, it criticizes weak enforcement of existing laws and the exclusion of marginalized groups, particularly rural women, from decision-making.
MRA urged government agencies to proactively disclose environmental data in digital, user-friendly formats and to create centralized open-access platforms for information on pollution, deforestation, water quality, and climate risks. It also called for investment in broadband expansion, solar-powered digital hubs, and community-based ICT centres to bridge the rural digital divide.
The organization further appealed to civil society groups, the media, and research institutions to play an active role in monitoring and disseminating environmental information, stressing that collaboration with the private sector and technology firms is vital for making data accessible and actionable.
“The cost of environmental devastation in Nigeria is already staggering,” Ms. Eweje warned. “Without meaningful access to information, citizens cannot protect their health and livelihoods or hold decision-makers accountable.”
