WHOLISTICALLY LOOKING AT THE EVER INCREASING PROBLEM OF THE RATE OF POLLUTION IN MAJOR NIGERIA CITIES UESING BENIN CITY AS A CASE STUDY
Abstract
The study set out to examine the ever increasing problem of the rate of pollution in major cities in Nigeria with emphasis in Edo state. In doing so, the study has on the basis of personal observation and secondary sources examined the effects of environmental pollution in Nigeria. The findings show that environmental problems in Nigeria generally are many, diverse in nature, and are caused by man’s interaction with nature (environment) for exploits in a number of ways-both in the cities; where industrial activities predominate, and rural areas; where agriculture thrives. The study posits that man utilizes air for survival, harnesses land and water resources for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural and other purposes. Through these activities; man directly and/or indirectly create problems which are detrimental to his health/survival, wellbeing, natural existence and stability.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
It is observed of recent that the role the environment play to a nation’s development process cannot be over emphasize. Apart from being the physical surrounding for natural habitats, the environment provide the basis for human exploits for agricultural, industrial, commercial, technological and tourism development of a society. For this and several other reasons, environmental issues now occupy a center stage in academic discourse and other public fora both at the national and international levels. Recorded evidence has also shown that the environment represents a wide range of the external circumstances, conditions and the things that affect the existence and development of an individual, organism, group (Isaichei 1999) and/or society. In Nigeria for instance, environmental issues did not gain official prominence until the 1988 Koko toxic waste dumping saga which also brought to the fore the exigent need to establish the Nigeria Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), Federal Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies, ostensibly to tackle environmentally related issues, in the country. These include issues such as environmental pollution, sanitation, depletion of ozone layer, desertification, flooding, erosion, poverty, bush burning, deforestation, soil conservation etc. All these mentioned above are a pointer to the fact that issues of environment and in fact environmental pollution which forms the basis of this study has taken a center stage in the nation’s (Nigeria’s) development process. Environmentally minded scholars: Ocheri (2003:174), Gbehe (2004), and Aja (2005:114) have associated environmental pollution with human activities and albeit persistent human interaction with the environment. Research has also shown that as the population of a country grows/increases with attendant pressure on the environment especially in the wake of improved technologies, environmental abuse and pollution is nevertheless heightened with corresponding effects on lives of people and other living organisms, (Ocheri, 2003: 175 and Hausers, 1971). It has been observed further that man through industrial, agricultural and the ever increasing urbanization process, security and terrorist activities tend to directly and/or indirectly pollute the environment. Jande (2005) and Aja (2005:114) in their separate observations, also in tandem with the foregoing agree that unrestricted use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, excreta and animal dung as well as spillages from refineries, large scale bush burning etc are perceived as some of the leading factors of environmental pollution in Nigeria.
Environmental Pollution is any discharge of material or energy into water, land, or air that causes or may cause acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) detriment to the Earth’s ecological balance or that lowers the quality of life. Pollutants may cause primary damage, with direct identifiable impact on the environment, or secondary damage in the form of minor perturbations in the delicate balance of the biological food web that are detectable only over long time periods. The industrialization of our society, the introduction of motorized vehicles, and the explosion of the human population, have caused an exponential growth in the production of goods and services. Coupled with this growth has been a tremendous increase in waste byproducts. The indiscriminate discharge of untreated industrial and domestic wastes into waterways, the spewing of thousands of tons of particulates and airborne gases into the atmosphere, the “throwaway” attitude toward solid wastes, and the use of newly developed chemicals without considering potential consequences have resulted in a lot of environmental disasters throughout the world.Environmental pollution usually occurs as a result of energy conversions and the use of resources which leaves their by-products behind in water, soil or air. Technology has begun to solve some pollution problems, and public awareness of the extent of pollution will eventually make government bodies to be more proactive rather than reactive and also undertake more effective environmental planning and adopt more effective antipollution measures.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The industrialization of our society, the introduction of motorized vehicles, and the explosion of the human population, have caused an exponential growth in the production of goods and services. Coupled with this growth has been a tremendous increase in waste byproducts. The indiscriminate discharge of untreated industrial and domestic wastes into waterways, the spewing of thousands of tons of particulates and airborne gases into the atmosphere, the “throwaway” attitude toward solid wastes, and the use of newly developed chemicals without considering potential consequences have resulted in a lot of environmental disasters throughout the world.
