GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA: CAN THE STATE ACHIEVE GOAL SEVEN OF MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS)?

Many of the generally acknowledged global environmental problems (greenhouse warming, ozone depletion, soil erosion, chemical management, acidic rain and water pollution, among other things) are directly or indirectly caused by the creation, operation, or disposal of the built environment undertaken by man. If man is responsible for many environmental disasters in which humankind is threatened, can his activities been regulated and conditioned by law? This question poses a view towards what should be the role of regulating authority (government) in environmental sustainability. But the critical explanation in this regards will go beyond just government but good governance. Governance or good governance in this regards is talking about ruling authority that provides enabling environment for the citizenry to achieve their goals and aspirations. Good governance here is not talking about people who fill positions of power for the fun of it, but people who fulfil their mandates as expected according to historical expectation of government. According to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), environmental sustainability is the seventh goal of the scheme. On this note, this paper looked at the relationship between good governance and environmental sustainability in Lagos State. In order to do this, the paper examines critically three major targets of MDGs that bordered on environmental sustainability and how Lagos State fair on each of the targets. These targets are: one, integrate the principles of sustainable development into the State policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources; two, halve by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation; and three, to achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. Secondary data generated by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of governments and national/international non-state actors were used in the paper. Results of the study reveal significant impact of good governance on environmental sustainability of the State as evident in various urban forestry, beautification and green Lagos projects. In conclusion, the paper posited that, with good governance, the State can reverse the loss of environmental resources and sustain environmental development.