The Brundtland Commission, 1987, defined sustainable development as, “…development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Sustainable development, currently a topical issue all over the world, constitutes itself as a major challenge for most developing nations. This is because, in the quest for aligning themselves with the global trend of development, finding a balance in the use of natural resources has been quite difficult.
Prior to the national policy on the environment, the Nigerian government did not have a comprehensive road map as regards to the proper management of the environment and its resources in line with the principles of Sustainable Development. However, since the policy came, concrete strategies have been created.
The goals and strategies developed by the workshop were streamlined to meet the particular needs of the Nigerian environment in key areas such as; land use and soil conservation, water resources management, toxic and hazardous substances, occupational health and safety, energy production and use, mining and exploitation of mineral resources, agricultural chemicals and pesticides, guidelines for public participation and institutional arrangement for environmental protection.
The Key National Environmental Problems facing Nigeria currently include:
A. SOIL DEGRADATION: This can be defined as the continual depletion of soil resources and soil structure to such an extent that the fertility of the soil is declined. Some of the causes include: reduction in tree cover, population pressure and inappropriate farming methods. The strategies enunciated in the national policy for combating soil degradation include: promoting optimal land use for sustained production, identifying, mapping and assessing the potentials and constraints of soil conservation principles in highway and other constructions activities, among others. The strategies are positive and realistic in terms of their move towards balancing human needs against environmental potentials.
This is because the strategies do not covertly deny the existence of human need; neither do they prevent people from trying to ensure their continued survival.
An example of this positive and realistic planning is ‘the integration of population and environmental factors in national development planning’.
It stipulates this while also ‘solving health problems associated with rapid urbanization and squalid urban environment’. However, no mention was made of the mode of enforcement of any of these goals. Also the strategy of positive legislation and incentives to prevent soil degradation were not mentioned. These are very useful strategies. In addition, the means of ‘promoting optimal land use’ is not stipulated.
B. WATER CONTAMINATION: This can occur as a result of the presence of toxic chemicals (whether natural or man made) in bodies of water. Toxicity effects can be dramatic or subtle and its detection can be difficult particularly in the case of widely used and highly persistent substances such as Mercury, Dieldrin or PCB’s.
Most of the strategies enumerated in the national policy on the environment to tackle water contamination are treated under the headings ‘Water resources management’ ‘Sanitation and waste management’ and ‘Toxic and hazardous substances’.
This categorization is ineffective because the problem deserves specific treatment. Also, little mention is made of the possible contaminants of water and how to tackle them. The term ‘efficient water usage’ as a strategy for water resources management is rather vague. It does not, like other strategies enumerated in the policy, stipulate ‘the who’ (i.e. water usage by who) and ‘the how’ (method) of the strategy.
The ‘consideration and amelioration of the adverse effects of water development on other resources’ as a strategy is very unclear as to which other resources. Does ‘consideration’ here mean an ‘Environmental Impact Assessment? It sounds rather evasive.
Other strategies however, seem reasonable.
The strategy of ‘monitoring the effects and control of all phases of the life-cycle of all substances likely to have an adverse impact on human health and environment’ is a very proactive one.
C. DEFORESTATION: This can be simply described as a reduction in forest cover. It leads to acidification of rivers and soil erosion as well as a loss of habitat for many species.
The strategy enunciated is the national policy on the environment as it regards deforestation which seems to be quite impressive.
Strategies such as increasing awareness, encouraging reforestation, protecting fauna, monitoring changes of forest cover via satellite, establishing germ plasma conservation programmes etc. are commendable.
Its mention of increasing support for N.G.Os and community tree planting programmes is very important. This is because in Kenya for example, the involvement of Nobel Prize Winner and Environmental Activist Wangari Maathai whose Green Belt movement planted over 30 million trees in Kenya represented a concrete and impressive move to protect the country’s dwindling forests.
It is suggested that tighter controls on fuel wood extraction from reserve are established.
D. GULLY EROSION: specific mention of a strategy for combating gully erosion is not mentioned. Nonetheless, strategies are littered around the policy e.g. ‘encouraging soil conservation principles in highway and other construction activities’.
E. BIODIVERSITY LOSS: Article 2 of the Biodiversity Convention of the United Nations Conference on Environment states that Biodiversity is:
The variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia , terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within the species, between species and of ecosystems.
Though not specifically treated, the policy enunciates a strategy as regards to biodiversity. However not much mention is made as to the mode of enforcement. Aside from state efforts to conserve biodiversity, public awareness & participation should be increased. In addition, a committee/group should be set up to oversee biodiversity matters.
F. COASTAL EROSION: - Not much mention is made in the policy about this problem neither are strategies enumerated.
G. AIR POLLUTION: - Air is said to be polluted when, due to the emission of dangerous substances beyond acceptable limits into the atmosphere, the quality of air falls below an acceptable level which is considered desirable and safe for the health and welfare of humans and other living organisms. The strategies enunciated in the National policy sound good but cannot be described as affectively implemented.
Mention is not made of the need to cut green house gases. Also, the influence of chemical and bacteriological weapons as possible air pollutants is not treated.
H. WATER HYACINTHS: - No specific provisions abound in the national policy for curbing them.
I. WILD LIFE AND FISHERIES LOSS: - Not much specific mention is made of this. However, they are lumped under forestry, wild life and protected areas. These have been discussed above.
The question however is “how committed is the Nigerian government to the Natural policy on the environment? Is there true commitment or paper commitment? Has the commitment, if any translated into visible changes in our environment and well being?
In the words of former president General Ibrahim Babangida, the National policy represents
“The consummation of our desire not only to protect our environment as a clean and healthy place for all of us to live in, but more importantly, to preserve it as a worthy legacy to bequeath to our unborn generations.”
However, a desire alone that is not backed with adequate implementation is not sufficient. Policies on development should translate into the improvement of human life.
The UNDP, Human Development Report, 1990, in reiterating this point said:
“We are discovering the essential truth that the people must be at the centre of all development. The central message of this human development report is that while growth in national production (GDP) is absolutely necessary to meet all essential human objectives, what is important is to study how this growth translates -or fails to translate into human development in various societies”.
This means that whatever plans are made should be translated into better life and well being for the people. The contrary would be described as ineffective.
The policy needs to be revisited. Also, corresponding justifiable rights should be included in the constitution. Legislation in Nigeria should be management oriented rather than rule oriented.
Also, Nigeria should continuously seek ways and means of developing bilateral and multilateral co-operation with other nations with a view to updating its implementation strategies for the use of the law facilitating sustainable development in environmental policies.
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