Environmental degradation in Nigeria

In the words of late Ken Saro-Wiwa when he received the Goldman Environmental Award in Scotland in 1994 “The environment is man’s first right”. Indeed, it is the right of individuals and peoples to live in an ecologically sound environment.

In fact, the relationship between environmental degradation and human living conditions are of even greater bearing when one considers that the victims of environmental degradation tend to belong to the more vulnerable sectors of the society, who regularly share an uneven burden of environmental pollution. 

It is thus not surprising that the United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution to hold transnational companies, especially in the oil and gas sector, accountable for environmental and human rights abuses in Nigeria and anywhere in the world that they operate.

We consider this step a welcome development, as it is disturbing that these same companies have impeccable records of compliance with environmental laws in the western nations or countries of origin.

According to World Bank statistics, more than 850 million persons live in regions affected by desertification. Nearly half a billion persons, mainly women and children in poor rural areas, live in severely polluted environments; 500 million annual premature deaths can be attributed to the high levels of pollution in cities. It is estimated that the deterioration of the ozone layer will lead to more than 300,000 additional cases of skin cancer in the world and 1.7 million cases of cataracts. The magnitude and severity of the problem are overwhelming. 

In the Niger Delta region, according to some analyst, the area has experienced over 10,000 oil spillages due to leaks, inefficiency and corrosive pipelines. And neither these companies nor the Federal government of Nigeria has any emergency response plan for cleaning up of oil spill sites or regeneration of devastated lands. These incessant spillages constitute a nuisance to both the environment and humans because they transform into serious health crises in the region. Furthermore, it is a known fact that the Federal government does not have security guarantees for the more than 20 million inhabitants of the region. The lack of security, basic infrastructures like hospitals, roads, safe drinking water, decent primary and secondary schools add to psychological and social trauma which leads to self doubt and declining ambition. Above all, it is perceived that majority of the youths in the region are unemployed and lack educational opportunities and healthcare. Consequently, these youths take to criminality.

Researchers have linked environmental pollution with human activities like unrestricted use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, excreta and animal dung as well as large scale bush burning to mention a few. Hence, the Nigerian government needs to focus its searchlight beyond the multinationals in the oil and gas sector. 

Across the cities in the country, several other organizations and individuals create different kinds of pollution that needs to be checked. Environmental impact assessment studies before start-ups is not enough, it should be continuously monitored. Educational programmes and campaigns through the mass media on the dangers of environmental pollution to health should be pursued.  

We seize this opportunity to call on all relevant local authorities to create a functional environmental regulation framework to ensure that our environment is not abused either by corporate bodies or individuals. There shouldn’t be sacred cows.