Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

John-Adegbesan, Ekwi & Prof. Nwaorgu, Omenihu Chiemela
Department of Political and Administrative Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper assessed environmental protection for sustainable development in Nigeria. It is a well-known fact that across the globe, there is a penchant to initiate policies and programmes that can protect the environment, and at the same time, engender sustainable development, given that a sustainable environment is the foundation of every meaningful development. Data for the study were drawn from published materials and Key Informant Interview (KII). The interviewees were made up of environmental activists and members of civil society organisations. Data for the study were analysed through content analysis, with attention to logical sequence of data. The study found that even though Nigeria parades a good number of environmental protection laws and policies, the challenge remains that there is little or no conscious effort at development, let alone sustainable development. The study recommended, among other things, the need for collective action towards sustainable development.

Key words: conservation, development, environment, environmental degradation, environmental sustainability, sustainable development,

I. INTRODUCTION

The need to protect the natural environment, which may also be referred to as ‘the natural habitat’, is the determinant factor in the enactment and enforcement of environmental policies. To this end, McCormick (2001, p.21) averred that environmental policy is:
any action deliberately taken to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on humans or the environment.
Included here are issues related to the pollution of air and water, and in the course of managing waste, ecological system supervision, how to protect bio-diversity, and how to protect resources of nature, and wildlife and species whose continued existence might be in jeopardy. Given the ubiquitous environmental issues all over the world, it would be foolhardy to sweep such under the carpet, or be in denial of them. Thus, Eccleston and March (2010) opine that “environmental policy embodies the commitment of the government (or organisations) to the laws, regulations and other policy mechanisms relating to environmental issues like air and water pollution, as well as waste management”.

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