Environmental degradation remains a critical governance issue in Nigeria, manifesting in oil spills, deforestation, desert encroachment, ineffective waste disposal systems, and the decline of aquatic ecosystems. This article interrogates the existing legal and institutional arrangements aimed at mitigating environmental harm, with particular attention to constitutional provisions, environmental legislation, regulatory standards, and international obligations domesticated within the Nigerian legal system. It critically assesses the performance of key regulatory bodies, drawing attention to persistent challenges such as overlapping functions, weak enforcement structures, inadequate funding, and undue political influence. The study further examines how factors such as poor compliance culture, limited environmental data systems, and low levels of public participation undermine effective environmental governance, especially in relation to extractive industries and land-based sources of pollution. Adopting a doctrinal and analytical methodology, the article contends that although Nigeria possesses an extensive legislative framework for environmental protection, the real difficulty lies in its implementation and institutional coordination. It argues that improving enforcement capacity, ensuring regulatory autonomy, enhancing access to environmental information, and encouraging community involvement are crucial to achieving meaningful environmental protection. Ultimately, the article maintains that strengthening institutional accountability and ensuring policy coherence are indispensable for transforming environmental governance from a normative ideal into a functional reality within Nigeria's development trajectory.