Environment Watch By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes
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That Nigeria is plagued with a myriad of environmental problems threatening the ecosystems and indeed the people is no longer in dispute.
These environmental problems called for urgent attention. These includes drought and desertification, soil erosion, flooding, accumulation of solid wastes in our urban centres, loss of biological diversity as a result of deforestation, indiscriminate bush burning, overgrazing, coastal erosion, ocean surge and illegal hunting.
Other intractable environmental problems in Nigeria are air and water pollution from industrial discharge, oil spillage and gas flaring. These problems vary in their occurrences and intensities across the various ecological zones in Nigeria.
That they are as deadly as weapons of mass destruction is not an over statement. They are indeed environmental weapons of mass destruction, considering the devastating negative effects they impact on the people and the environment.
Given this un-cheery scenario and the cost of these various environmental problems in Nigeria which is estimated to be within the range of N500 billion per year according to the UNDP, the economic impact on the poor people that are already living below poverty line could better be imagined. Poverty is one of the most potent of these weapons.
African Ministerial Council on Environment (AMCEN) in its mission statement says that economic and environmental policies, which do not improve the lives of the poor majority of our people, are not socially or politically sustainable.
The overarching goals of alleviation of poverty in our economic development can only be met if we ensure the adequate protection and management of our natural resources.
One of the factors that has brought significant demand on resources is our unplanned population growth. The hallmark of any developing nations including Nigeria is to reduce the pressure on resources for example which has persistently pushed farmers; marginal land with an attendant plethora of ecological problems.
Deforestation for instance, has been linked to population growth. Studies have implicated population growth as being responsible for 79 percent of deforestation, while the remaing 21 percent has been ascribed to increases in food consumption per person.
In Nigeria , the predominant subsistence farming practice rely on shifting cultivation or “slash and burn” that has become the most important of the factors of deforestation.
The critical shortage of fuel-wood also increases the rate of deforestation. The hike in price of kerosene, an alternative energy source for the low income and the rural poor that constitute as much as 75 percent of the populace, only worsened the problem. This group invests more in axes, machetes and other implements so that it can sustain a renewed and intensified onslaught on the forests.
Of the ecological “weapons of mass destruction in Nigeria ,” population growth and poverty, which have linkages between them, is central to the sustenance of the disasters. It must be emphasized that for any meaningful prevention, reduction, amelioration, and overall management of these disasters, these fundamental causal and pervasive factors must be given adequate consideration. This is expedient if the cycles of disasters factors are to be broken in a sustainable manner. We cannot expect those living in poverty and ignorance to worry about saving the environment. Poverty and environmental degradation are inextricably linked; a solution to one will help to solve the other, while an increase in one aggravates the other. Human progress cannot justifiably be assured without concerted efforts to combat the twin evils of poverty and environmental degradation.
There is no doubt that much effort has been made at various levels to address the numerous environmental problems as it, affects Nigeria . The reality, however, is that the way things are now, the environments, which is the means of sustenance for the people are no longer sustainable. Resources are not only being exploited faster than they can be replaced.
Virtually, every process of exploitation leaves the environment in a state of comatose. The manifestation is the ecological hazards usually degenerate into full-blown ecological disasters.
The factors responsible for the several environmental problems in Nigeria are: A general inability of the agencies, responsible for the environment to enforce laws aimed at regulations; particularly with respect of urban planning, and development, prospecting for minerals, adherence to industrial standards and erection of public utility in ecologically sensitive areas.
Inappropriate agricultural practices, the destruction of watersheds and the opening up of watersheds, of river banks, and other critical areas leading to silting of river beds and loss of water courses.
Uncontrolled logging, aggravated by lack of restocking in many parts of the country leading to loss of biodiversity.
Bush burning for farming and ever-increasing depletion of young forests for fuel-wood.
Gas flaring and the resultant problems of ecosystem destabilization, heat stress, acid rain and the consequent effects on freshwater and coastal water lives.
Of ecosystem destabilization, heat stress, acid rain and the consequent effects on freshwater and coastal water lives.
Uncontrolled use of agrochemicals leading to soil contamination and Dumping of non-natural but trade related expired and contraband chemicals and pesticides.
To date, Nigeria ‘s natural systems continue to experience considerable pressure, leading to deterioration. Over population Is also drawing down key natural resources to the point that the degradation of lands, forests and waters has become intensive, and threatening to overwhelm the integrity of key natural systems and the prospects of economic development.
Government has held landmark conferences, negotiated dozens of bilateral and multilateral agreements, built-up institutions and set out a common vision, which include eradicating poverty and hunger, reducing child mortality among others. But as it is so often, there is always the risk in planning without execution. But after years of listening to debates, many of us fatigue,” frustrated that no one seems to do much to help.
The key now is to put people first and the environment second, but also to remember that when you exhaust resources, you destroy people. With that in mind, policy makers wrestle with a host of difficulty issues that affect both people and the environment.
The major basis of social and economic development in most countries, especially in developing countries, lie in their environmental and natural resources. The level of development in these countries is often a reflection of how the resources have been planned, allocated and managed.
Those nations, who have achieved a level of sustainable development often, carried out the above activities with an understanding of the exosphere arid the appreciation and knowledge of how to prevent, mitigate and restore the stresses generated by natural and human activities.
One of the legacies of our recent past is the understanding that economic growth, social stability and political security are all inherently interdependent and all require a healthy and strong natural resource base. This cardinal vision is reflected in all the relevant instruments and declarations adopted by the international community to date, but principles of sustainable development have proved elusive in practice.
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