AMAMIHE Journal of Applied Philosophy

In this paper, the environment justice of Niger Delta in Nigeria is discussed within the framework of capabilities approach to the environment justice and the comparative justice approach outlined by Amartya Sen. The review evaluates the fact that oil pollution, displacement, and violation of the local rights are systematic injustices that restrain human capabilities and freedoms. According to the difference between niti (institutional arrangements) and nyaya (realized justice) as postulated by Sen, this paper confirms that even with formal environmental protection laws, the reality in the lived conditions of the communities in the Niger Delta shows that there is a deep-rooted environmental injustice. This paper presents a case based on the empirical evidence of UNEP evaluations and existing studies to argue that the realization perspective as put forward by Sen is useful in explaining and eliminating environmental injustices that have been suffered in the region during the past six decades. 

Open Full Text (PDF)