The Politics of Environmental Pollution in Nigeria: Emerging Trends, Issues, and Challenges

Introduction

Environmental pollution is a matter of global concern today because of what the environment is to human survival and indeed, the survival of the earth itself. Virtually everywhere discussions focus on environment around the world. “If it is not greenhouse effect”, “it is global warming”. Both point to the fact that the earth is polluted. Williams (2006:88) affirms that it is well recognized that the environment constitutes one of the major challenges to health. He however points out that Nigeria suffers from both primary and secondary environmental problems resulting from under-development and growth in industrialization. As a result, human idea and activities are endangered on a daily basis. In view of the threats to the human existence, environmental pollution is one of the current Phenomena that have gained international attention, including the Nigeria. This pollution comes in different ways.

Environmental protection implies safeguarding all the surrounding conditions which influence growth and development (air, water, land, atmosphere and space) against pollution (Udoudo 2006). Furthermore, Udoudo (2006) observes that in some localities in Nigeria, especially among the riverine communities of the Niger Delta region, one can hardly find modern toilet facilities. In some communities land pollution is the degradation of the earth’s land surface through misuse of the soil by poor agricultural practices, mineral exploitation, industrial waste dumping and indiscriminate disposal of urine waters.

Air pollution is the accumulation in the atmosphere of substances that in sufficient concentrations endanger human health or produce other measured effects on living matter and other materials. Among the major sources of air pollution are powered heat generation, the burning of solid wastes, industrial processes of air pollutants like carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion engine and others, such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and photochemical oxidants.

Again, noise pollution is a composite of sounds generated by human activities ranging from blasting stereo system to the roar of transport vehicles. The most readily measurable physiological effect of noise pollution is damage of hearing, which may be either temporary or permanent and may cause distraction of normal activities or general annoyance. Environmental pollution has threatened human existence in diverse ways. This is because life is dependent on the environment. Environmental pollution can occur from petroleum production activities, as noted by Ugochukwu (2003) that: Since 1905, petroleum operations have caused great devastation to the Niger Delta. These have impacted negatively on fishing and farming which are no longer productive enough to the area. In Ogoniland food is now imported in an area once known as the food basket. Oil spills destroy bulk farmlands and crop. They also destroy aquatic life. When a situation like this occurs, economic activities are grossly reduced and good social life hampered. Damage to farm lands and aquatic life by oil spills cannot be overstated.