Ecological Challenges: Problems And Possible Remedies! -By Abdullahi Hassan

An environment can be referred to as the immediate surroundings and that condition in which human beings, plants, and animals live, operate, and survive as organisms. It should be noted that it is somewhat comfortable for humans to come to the reality of the importance of the environment in the cycle of life. It should be emphasized hereby that the survival of humanity, animals, plants et Cetra, is solidly dependent on the sustainability of the environment. To this end, human activities on earth particularly in this era of globalization harm the environment and pose a great danger to the survival of humankind, animals, plants, and the planet. Man activities such as, but not limited to deforestation, rural/urban migration, industrial waste, air pollution, overpopulation, water pollution, noise pollution, destruction of mountains, and hills, and oil exploration have hurt and injured and continue to injure the environment with adverse impact on the atmosphere. To this end, the environment can be said to be where we lived and coexist with other species on Earth.

 Environmental Challenge.

Environmental challenge refers to those crisis, problem, or issues that pose a danger, or threat and causes damage to mankind and the environment. These challenges include but are not limited to deforestation, overpopulation, poor waste management, climate change, global warming, the greenhouse effect, soil contamination, noise pollution, water pollution, radioactive and plastic pollution, etc. Globally, governments, individuals, and private organizations have continued to put down various measures, policies, and laws to curtail those challenges and to establish a balance between man and the environment.

 Those Environmental Challenges that Call for Authorities’ Attention are a tribute to:

Deforestation

Water pollution

Air pollution

Poor waste management practices

Soil Degradation

Overpopulation

Rural-urban migration

 Deforestation

Indeed, our once rich-wild forest has been destroyed to some large extent, and these are often made to make cattle ranches, furniture, firewood, charcoal, and building houses. Mountains have been destroyed in many parts of Nigeria to pave ways for tunnels, highways, and also the compaction of the soil to make sand available for buildings’ foundations. Deforestation is an environmental challenge that simply denotes cutting down or clearing trees, bushes, and forests to make wood available for industrial consumption, land for building, and other commercial purposes. It should be noted thereby that trees are been daily cut down in our forests for exportation, and to make them available to foreign industries as raw materials. Many forests have been burned down to make charcoal, and trees for firewood, notably in most of the Northern forests. Hills have been destroyed in Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa state, and also the eastern part of Kaduna, specifically the Chikun local government area to pave way for highways. Notably, Umar Musa Yar’adua Way, and also to make sand available for road construction.

 Water Pollution

Water pollution is one of the major environmental challenges, a problem, whereby our local industries daily dumped their industrial waste like paper, plastics, iron, aluminum, and pesticide into the rivers, ponds, streams, etc. to do away with such toxic waste. It should be noted that the dumping of such pollutants harms the water we consume, which has serious consequences for our health. Water pollution is the contamination of the water we consume by substances, which makes the water unsafe for cooking, drinking, swimming, and other hygienic purposes. Currently, clean and safe water is becoming more and more scarce in many parts of Nigeria, courtesy to the waste that has been daily dumped into the river, drainages, and culver’s, most especially in the ghetto areas, thereby contaminating the very water people make use for cooking, drinking, and swimming. In return, it brings about the waterborne disease in the community. Notably, the fish in the Niger-Delta riverine areas and also the crocodiles that are hitherto in the foremost River Kaduna, have since been largely extinct, one of the reasons is the oil exploration and the chemicals, and industrial waste that are been daily dumped into the river. The fact is clean water is becoming a rare commodity in most of Nigeria, as such, authorities concerned must take certain measures to solve the problem of water pollution.

 Air Pollution

Air pollution brings about skin rashes, eye irritation, lung disease, a decrease in the quality of air, heart disease, and even the sudden death of human beings. Air pollution can easily contaminate the surface, water, and plants. It refers to the release of pollutants like chemicals, gases, smoke, and toxic fuel in the air, which come with an adverse effect on humans and pose a serious threat to human existence and the planet as a whole. It is also the release of chemicals that are composed of separate particles into the atmosphere, which includes gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide and also the emission from industries and increasing use of fossil fuels. The emission from most of our large industries, the alarming number of popular commercial vehicles called “Keke-Napep”  that are daily emitting smokes in many of our cities is alarming, the number of motor vehicles users across the nation keep increasing daily, with all emitting polluted smoke to the environment, which has continued to pose great danger to the health of the ecosystem.

 Poor Waste Management Practice

Most of our cities have been battling the challenge of poor and improper waste management practices, indeed it has adverse effects on the environment, which include, but not limited to; littering, soil contamination, hazardous waste that is been daily dumped or buried into soil, which in return releases hazardous gases into the atmosphere. Nigeria is currently posed with a crisis of waste management practices. People, individuals, and industries daily improperly dump waste at will, at any given space without consequences. Most of the drainages, and culverts in our cities are been filled up with waste, plastics, and industrial waste, also people defecate so open at any given space, which in turn bring about communicable disease.

 Soil Degradation/Desertification

This has to do with the decline in the biological, physical, and chemical condition of the soil caused by nature or improper and poor maintenance of the soil by the activities of humans, which include but are not limited to; rampant use of fertilizer, frequent agricultural practices, overgrazing, urban expansion, oil exploration, deforestation, mining climate change, etc. It should be emphasized that soil degradation has to do with over-grating erosion, soil compaction, monoculture planting, and overexposure to pollutants. Indeed, all these have hurt and continue to injure the very soil we depend on and exploit for farming agricultural products, grazing, mining of substances that include coal, gold, and iron ore, and also an exploration of oil at the coastal areas that has continued to damage the soil. Soil degradation has brought about desertification, which in turn brings about the decline in green areas, and a reduction in food production and also grazing.

 Overpopulation

The rapid growth of the human population is one of the greatest environmental challenges that has silently and inevitably been aggravating global warming, loss of habitat, environmental pollution, pressure on scarce resources, clean water, good air, and also a safe, clean environment. Overpopulation has to do with the rapid growth in the population of man without provisions for shelter, food, health care, and education, which in turn gives rise to high rates of mortality, infectious diseases like cholera, diarrhea, nausea, and even Covid-19 which spread faster in an overpopulated area. People give birth to children aimlessly and dump them on the street without provisions to cater to their general well-being.  It should be noted that the human population has continued to grow rapidly worldwide, and the Nigerian state is not immune to that. For example, humanity entered the 20th century with 1.6 billion people, and right now, we are more than 6 billion, and by 2050, it is estimated that the global population will hit 10 billion people. Last Nigeria’s population census held in 2006, indicated that Nigeria has a population of 140,431,790 million (NPC), then it was estimated that Nigeria has a population of 218,541,212, million people in 2022 (Nigerian Population Growth Rate). Unrestrained migration of people from rural areas to the metropolis is alarming, as such, policymakers must take drastic and proactive measures to curtail further pressure on the ever-pressurized urban cities.

 Rural Urban Migration

Rural-urban migration has to do with the movement of people from the outskirts of the city, and villages to the main city (urban area) in search of greener pastures, social amenities, good life, and at the same time equal opportunity. The unprecedented urban growth has continued to bring about urban expansion with a socio-economic deficit, which has led to the creation of a lively town, unemployment, poverty, hunger, and crime. The growing rural-urban migration in today’s  Nigeria is so alarming, even from neighboring countries like Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Burkina Faso, are trooping in mass into Nigeria, in search of greener pastures, and other socio-economic opportunities. All this harms the ever-growing population of Nigeria.

 Proposed Solution(s) to Those Ecological Challenges

Indeed, tomorrow’s growth is under the threat of nature’s revenge due to the activities of humans on earth, but tomorrow can still somewhat escape the revenge of nature if humans take some cautious steps to mitigate how they exploit nature. Environmental challenges will not be that difficult to be solved through innovative ways, organizational structures, government policies, etc. There are many innovative, relevant, and proactive measures to solve environmental challenges such as;

 Reforestation

Reforestation is the intentional planting and replanting of trees, plants in an area hitherto used to be a forest or bush, but was cut down or cleared by humans. One of the positive impacts of reforestation is the trees planted provide humans with oxygen, and protect town(s) against storms, tsunamis, etc. The Nigerian government can come up with legislation or policy, whereby the governor of a state will only sign a certificate of occupancy  (C of O), of houses, hotels, schools, organizations, and industries only if there is a piece of evidence that they plant at least two trees. State’s Ministry(s) of Housing/Works/Planning/ should only approve building plans only if there’s evidence that there will be enough space for planting trees, and also follow up to enforce that legislation or policy effectively. The State Governments need to start engaging and involving the locals where deforestation is taking place. Policies, laws, and strategies of government are more likely to succeed if the locals buy into those policies or programs. Failure to involve the locals and the authorities concerned will likely result in the exercise in the futility of those policies designed to mitigate deforestation. Government can also encourage people to adopt metal furniture and discourage wood furniture, which will go a long way in discouraging deforestation and also growing the metal industries.

 Water Quality Management Control

Water pollution is the introduction of harmful substances into the water, such as volcanic ash, plastics, papers, and chemicals, that are daily dumped into the river, culverts, drainages, and streams, thereby polluting the very water humans, animals and plants depend for survival. Government policies and legislation can mitigate and also reduce drastically a particular problem or challenge in any given facet, whenever necessary. The Nigerian state can come up with a formula for maintaining and controlling the stormwater system, and its movement and also putting into consideration culverts, sewage, and drainages in the design of towns, houses, and factories to pave way for the runoff of rainwater in the streets. The authorities concerned should also take primary responsibility for providing safe, clean, and hygienic pipe-borne water for public consumption. Also constitute a task force team, most especially at the metropolitan, for maintaining those culverts, and drainages and go hard on defaulters.

 Air Quality Management Control

Air pollution can be mitigated drastically if certain proactive measures are taken, which include but are not limited to the adoption of renewable energy, electric cars if possible, saving of energy, minimization of old cars, and toxic fuel, and the burning of the forest for charcoal. Currently, countries are been adopting renewable energy as the primary source of energy. Industries, and factories that emit too many toxic pollutants should be hit hard through high taxes, and fines, by government legislation, also a law prohibiting the burning of forests, charcoal, and lightning stove to some extent. State governments should also encourage their inhabitants to move away from fossil fuels and adopt alternative energies like solar, wind, and electrical appliances to reduce air hazards to some extent.

 Effective Waste Management Practice

Waste prevention and management can be achieved through various ways, including but not limited to effective and efficient waste disposal, waste-eliminating techniques like landfills, underground disposal, etc. Also through the foremost “3R” reduce, reuse, and recycle. Authorities concerned through the Ministry of Environment can come up with the “3R” alike formula, to encourage the inhabitants of their states to reduce or cut down the amount of waste they usually generate through buying food, and drinks with their home utensils like cooler, plast instead of disposable items like leather, takeaway pack, and plastics. Reuse is a situation whereby people can find alternatives, and new ways of making use of those things hitherto they often dump into landfills, which ideally can be used and reused for the same or other purposes. Recycling is another alternative, whereby iron, metals plastic, and cartons can be recycled for other secondary purposes. Government should also encourage its ministries and parastatals to go paperless to some extent, thereby adopting computerization of their day-to-day activities. The environmental task force can be another alternative in checkmating the excessive dumping of waste on metropolitan roads, drainages, and culverts.

 Effective Soil Management

It should be noted that humans and other organisms primarily live within the soil for survival, and have for the past thousands of years continue to contribute to the cycle that continues to make life possible on Earth. Soil degradation can be mitigated if and when the authorities concerned embark on educating the farmers to reduce the use of fertilizer, and also adopt practicing crop rotation at a particular area at a particular time. This gives the soil ingredients it hitherto lacks when practicing monoculture farming. Soil compaction and rampant usage of fertilizer should be regulated to some extent, to reduce the unnecessary pressure the soil has been subjected to with tools like tractors, harvesting equipment, and animals. There should also be strict grazing law, we are in the 21st century, and herders should be encouraged to adopt ranching, instead of roaming about from one region to another in search of greener pastures, thereby bringing about the farmers-herders conflict. Regulating the activities of miners is also very vital in controlling soil degradation.

 Population Control

Population control can be achieved through various ways like; sex and girl-child education. Girls should be educated right from infancy, when you educate them, you enlighten their brains to think, and to make a choice, decisions for themselves, and by that, they won’t produce children that they cannot be able to cater. Women empowerment is also key, most especially in rural areas, where they only see women as tools for reproduction. Encouraging family planning through generosity funds by the government, and private bodies are key. Improvement in the health care system, legislation on girl-child marriage, and even the one-child policy will go a long way in mitigating overpopulation as an environmental challenge in Nigeria.

 Migration Control

With the migration of people from the outskirts (rural areas) to the cities (urban areas), there will be pressure on the city, which comes with an adverse effect on the scarce resources, and social amenities in the city. The authorities concerned can curtail the high migration of people from the rural areas to the metropolitan by extending those social amenities enjoyed by the metropolitans to those remote areas. Such amenities like government infrastructures, schools, factories, recreational centers, parks, and also modern farming. The government can also embark on orienting and educating the rural dwellers on civil and conflict resolution, because conflicts and disputes are some of the primary reasons for rural-urban migration, by educating the locals on that, the chance of conflict, and violence will be low, the there will be peace and tranquility. Insecurity is among the reasons for rural, and urban migration, the Nigerian government through the Ministry of Defense should continue to liaise with other federal law enforcement agencies to bring about more security in those vulnerable areas. Data is also key in checkmating urban migration, government can do this by registering all its inhabitants, which in return, provides them the avenue to generate more tax that will enable them to develop those areas.

 The societal Impact of these solutions and the expected outcomes

Every solution developed has an impact on the particular issue, challenge, or problem it is intended to solve or remedy. The outcome(s), are also expected from such solution(s) for further evaluation.

 Impact of reforestation

This has to do with the impact of reforestation on the environment. Unarguably, trees provide humans with oxygen, that they need to breathe and protect their environment from storms, tsunamis, and erosion. Green areas protect the soil from desertification. Species, and wildlife that depends on trees will live without any existential threat. Trees provide man, and animals with food, and protection. It should be noted thereby that, reforestation is a huge remedy to deforestation, and has been impacting positively on the lives of mankind and other species. With this, there will be a friendly environment for both humans and species, also government can be able to employ its citizens at those recreational centers, parks, and zoos.

 Impact of Quality water

Humans, animals plants all depend on quality water as a primary commodity for survival. It should be noted thereby, without clean and safe water, living humans, animals, and plants will be in serious tragedy, and possibly on the edge of premature death. The impact of clean water on any society is there will be a drastic decline in waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, etc. People will live a good life, life expectancy will be high. The supplies of clean water will significantly be improved, enhance socio-economic growth, and reduce poverty and malnutrition in children. The result will be, people will cook and drink irrigate with safe and clean water, which in return brings about the good life and reduces diseases and premature death.

 Impact of Quality Air

The regulation of air pollution and the encouragement of citizens to adopt renewable energy cannot be overemphasized. The adoption of solar as a primary source of energy has a very good economic impact. The emission of harmful chemicals, substances like fossil fuel, gas, and toxic pollutants will be minimized and reduced drastically, and in return increases the quality of life, life expectancy, quality air, and well-lived. Expected outcomes will be quality air, good life, and high life expectancy of people and other organisms.

 Impact of Proper Waste Management

The impact of maintaining a clean and safe environment is, it significantly reduces water pollution, air pollution, and hazardous leachate. It also protects the environment from hazardous substances, it maintains the cleanness of the environment, which in turn brings about good health and good life to the people without endangering their future and that of the planet.

Impact of Effective Soil Management

It brings about an increase in food production, enhancing nutrients in the soil and the food people consume. So also, the quality of the meat people consume, the quality of the environment people lived in, and the protection of plants, and crops against wind and erosion. Indeed, these are some of the positive outcomes of controlling and mitigating soil degradation that cannot be overemphasized.

Impact of Population Control

The impact is, there will be less pressure on scarce resources, social amenities, and the general security architecture. There will be economic growth, social development, and human capital will increase, with an increase in human capital there will be a rapid increase in other areas such as education, technology, science, and effective administrative management, improved rates of participation, innovation, social well-being, increased in skills and productivity. Authorities concerned can channel its population to industries, modern farming, and technology. All these in turn bring about economic growth and social development.

Impact of Effective Migration Control

This brings about quality education, basic health care, industries, and equal opportunities. The presence of government ministries and parastatals in rural areas will go a long way in curtailing rural-urban migration. With social services and infrastructures equally situated in those areas, there will be no unnecessary pressure on the metropolitan. It should be noted thereby, that with all these social amenities, there will be employment for youth and women in the rural areas, then the urban city will expand technically, and not by population. As such, migrating to the metropolitan at any slide opportunity will be thing of the past.