Oil Spillage, Illegal Mining, Other Human Activities Endanger Nigeria’s Environment
Specifically, issues of unregulated mining, deforestation and oil and gas extraction activities, as well as land reclamation are promoting profiteering and abuse of resources to the benefit of a few political class at the expense of the vast majority of Nigerians who continue to wallow in poverty.
Experts assessment to mark World Environment Day penultimate Wednesday, themed: ‘Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience,’ said some EIA reports on development projects have been shrouded in secrecy and become an academic exercise in futility. WED is celebrated yearly on June 5 to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
They said the government should be reclaiming or restoring the wetlands, not turning ecosystems into patches of death as the case in Lagos waterfronts. The experts also called for planting of indigenous species that are already adapted to ecosystems to ensure drought resilience.
While seeking a sober reflection on the profligate relationship with the environment backed with intentional actions to solve it, they urged the government to match policies and laws with actions.
The Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, said there is ongoing massive land degradation from unregulated mining, deforestation and from oil and gas extraction activities.
He called on the Federal Government to embark on an environmental audit of the Niger Delta region and follow it up with remediation, restoration and reparations.
According to him, land reclamation is a ridiculously poor attempt to cover up efforts at converting wetlands into concrete jungles. “It is a horrible idea that should be legislated against. Lagos suffers devastating flooding during even minor rains. Turning wetlands into concrete surfaces in a sense to create buildable spaces reduces available permeable areas and is an indication of either ignorance or climate denial.
He noted that the downward push of herders is an unavoidable outcome of reckless environmental stewardship, adding that the conflicts have implications for food security. “Beyond food security, the displacement of our farmers and the introduction of seeds donated by international or local agencies could also pose a big risk for our food sovereignty,” he added.
The Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST), Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba, observed that the pattern of location of facilities and infrastructure, as well as the pattern of resources expended in the country, has a pull effect into certain locations, especially Lagos. “The nature of the geography of Lagos, and the choices made, has accelerated reclamation.”
Nwajiuba, a former Vice Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, explained that many green areas are being lost to urban development and housing due to a lack of synergy between the Ministries of Environment, and Urban Development and Housing. He called for an inter-ministerial committee on such matters.
“The aggregate decline in maize yields this year is existing simultaneously with declined resource use productivity, and is mostly driven by atypical high temperatures, and precipitation deficits.”
A former president of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Dr Moses Ogunleye, said the commitment by governments at the various tiers has been low on combating desertification and drought, as well as on land restoration, adding that the green wall project on combating desertification is worthy if its target can be achieved.
He said there are still many instances of land degradation in the Niger Delta area; notwithstanding, the cleanup in Ogoni land, which was not only awful but very threatening.
Ogunleye stressed that environmental auditing is weak in the country, saying that what is needed is compliance with environmental management practices and laws by the stakeholders.
Ogunleye called for the adoption of large landscape improvement plans in all cities and towns like Operation Green Lagos started in 2008, and led to the planting of a large number of trees.