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20 Envtl. L. Rev. 3 (2018)

handle is hein.journals/envirlr20 and id is 1 raw text is: Law Review Article Environmental Law Review 2018, Vol. 20(1) 3-15 @The Author(s) 2017 Examining the legal safeguardsK)TeAtos)21 Reprints and permission: sagepub.co.uk</journalsPermnissions.nav against the e..viron... tal impa t 10. 1177/1461452917746153 of land grabbing in African journals.sagepub.com/home/elj OSAGE countries: A critical review of Nigerian environmental law Taiwo Ajala, PhD Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria Abstract Large-scale land acquisitions in African countries by foreign investors who use such lands for agricultural purposes that have negative socio-economic and environmental impact in host countries is considered as 'land grabbing in Africa'. In the context of the environment, the type of crops and monoculture practices undertaken by the foreign investors led to changes in land use, deforestation, exposure of land to soil erosion, depletion of water sources, pollution of surface water and contamination of ground water as a result of the intense use of agro-chemicals. Collectively, these have had a deleterious environmental impact in host countries. This article examines the phenomenon of 'land grabbing in Africa' by identifying the type of land-based agricultural investments by foreign entities and the environmental impact of such investments in African countries like Nigeria. The article argues that the prevailing Nigerian environmental law cannot ensure sustainable development as it does not address the environmental impact of land-based agricultural investments by foreign enterprises in the country. The article proposes that suitable environmental laws must contain the concepts of Community Participation in environmental impact assessment process of land based foreign investments and Environmental justice for victims of environmental degradation of such investments. Keywords Land grabbing, land based investments, environmental impact of land grabbing, Nigerian environmental law, environmental impact assessment, environmental justice Introduction Most African countries are endowed with natural resources such as a variety of mineral deposits, arable lands and rich biodiversity. For many decades, despite abundant arable lands, agriculture was not taken Corresponding author: Taiwo Ajala, PhD, Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, Badagry Express Way, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Email: taijala2005@gmail.com

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