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15THE HIDDEN COST OF NIGERIA'S INEFFECTIVE POLICIES: AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT ON THE COUNTRY'S ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
NWANKWO NNABUEZE KALU
PhD candidate, Institute of Environmental Engineering RUDN University, Moscow, Russia
Abstract: Nigeria has an abundant natural environment for diverse ecosystems which support a variety of plant and animal species. Nevertheless, deforestation, oil exploration, and other human activities have resulted in the loss of natural habitats. This paper analyzes the hidden costs of Nigeria's ineffective policies and their impact on the country's ecological footprint. The research discloses that ineffective policies in Nigeria have led to unmanageable practices such as deforestation, oil exploration, and pollution of water bodies, bringing about a substantial impact on the environment, biodiversity loss, and global climate change. The study also emphasizes the economic and social costs of these practices, including reduced agricultural productivity, loss of revenue from tourism, and health issues resulting from exposure to toxins. The paper concludes that Nigeria's policymakers must improve and realize effective policies to solve the environmental challenges facing the country and support sustainable practices to minimize the ecological footprint.
Keywords: Nigeria, ecological footprint, hidden cost, sustainable development, biodiversity.
Introduction
Nigeria has natural resources and diverse ecosystems, varying from the tropical rainforest in the south to the savannah in the north. Renewable natural resources include water bodies, solar and wind. Nonrenewable resources include crude oil, coal, and minerals. These resources have contributed significantly to the country's economic growth, but their exploitation has come at a cost to the environment. Ineffective policies and unjustifiable practices have contributed to a significant ecological footprint in Nigeria. The ecological footprint is a measure of human impact on the environment, including land use, carbon emissions, and water consumption. Nigeria's ecological footprint has been growing rapidly over the years due increase in urbanization and unsustainable practices such as deforestation, oil exploration, and contamination of water bodies.
This paper analyzes the hidden costs of Nigeria's ineffective policies and their impact on the country's ecological footprint. The study also examines the economic and social costs of these practices and provides recommendations for policymakers to address the environmental challenges facing the country.
Research result
1. Deforestation
Deforestation is a major contributor to Nigeria's ecological footprint, Nigeria's forest ecosystems are threatened by rapid population growth, urbanization and economic activities with an annual deforestation rate ranging between 0.72 and 2.38 percent, according to FAO 2018 report. Agricultural expansion, heavy reliance on firewood and charcoal for energy due to the high cost of refined petroleum products for domestic use, unsustainable timber extraction for furniture and construction works, urbanization, grazing, bushfires, and infrastructure development are among the factors behind this trend [8]. Deforestation has led to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, natural environment, and climate change, with adverse effects on the country's agricultural productivity, and reduced water availability. One of the main causes of deforestation in Nigeria is illegal logging for commercial purposes. Large areas of forest have been cleared for agriculture, particularly for cash crops such as cocoa and palm oil, and for commercial logging activities [2].
The loss of forest cover has a big impact on the country's environment and economy. Land and soil degradation are major environmental problems resulting from deforestation, leading to reduced agricultural productivity and rapid desertification. The loss of large forest areas has
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contributed to climate change by reducing the capacity of forests to sequester carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases exposing the topsoil to the direct heat of the sun and killing microorganisms that help make the soil rich. Rural communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods have been negatively affected by the loss of forest cover, bringing out poverty and food insecurity. The loss of biodiversity resulting from deforestation has also led to the loss of medicinal plants and other natural resources that could have been used for economic development [7]. Although Nigeria is known for being lawless and corrupt, policymakers must improve and enforce effective guidelines and laws that advocate sustainable forest management practices. Public enlightenment will go a long way to help achieve this. Fully mobilization of all three tiers of government must play a major role to support the initiative to put an end to deforestation.
2. Oil exploration
Oil exploration has been a major contributor to Nigeria's ecological footprint. With a population of over 200 million Nigeria is one of the largest oil producers in Africa, and the oil industry has been a significant source of revenue for the country to sustain its population. Regrettably, oil exploration over five decades period has left the environment of the region greatly degraded. This has negatively affected the economic, social, and cultural lives of the people [4]. Oil exploration activities in Nigeria have led to pollution of air, water, and soil in the Niger Delta region of the country including oil spills and gas flaring causing major damage to the ecosystem and the health of local communities. The pollution has also affected fishing and farming activities in the region, leading to economic losses and food insecurity with birth defects.
Oil exploration has caused deforestation in the country. The construction of pipelines and other infrastructures associated with oil exploration has led to the clearance of large areas of forest, leading to soil loss of biodiversity and natural habitat. The negative impacts of oil exploration on the environment and communities in Nigeria have been compounded by weak environmental regulations corruption and unproductive enforcement of existing laws. The inability of the oil multinationals, and state, and local governments to address resource exploration and environmental degradation remains a potential source of conflict and instability in Nigeria. This has been made worse by persistent and violent demands [9].
3. Pollution of water bodies
Modern agriculture practices make use of chemical products like pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers to deal with pests, weeds, and insects. Certain chemicals when sprayed to kill insects, pests and weeds do not vanish entirely; rather they leach into the ground, destroying the soil, and plant roots and harm microorganisms in the soil. Due to the lack of working sanitary landfills, during the rainy season, waste materials are washed into a nearby water body [6]. Nigeria is a primary consumer of plastic and a consequential contributor to global plastic pollution. One of the main sources of water pollution in Nigeria is the Petrochemical industry, particularly in the Niger Delta region in the South. Globally, Nigeria is ranked ninth for plastic pollution with an estimated 2.5 million tons of plastic waste generated annually and less than 12% recycled [1]. The discharge of industrial wastes and untreated sewage into water bodies has led to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes, leading to a loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Contaminated water sources have been associated with the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and diarrhoea. The consumption of contaminated fish and other aquatic resources has also been linked to the spread of health problems such as cancer and reproductive disorders including food poison. The instability of portable water prices is accompanied by the instability of public income. Most times local and state government workers are not paid for several months making it impossible for them to buy clean water [5].
4. Economic and Social Costs
Diminishing agricultural productivity, loss of revenue from tourism, and health issues resulting from exposure to contaminants are some of the economic costs. The loss of biodiversity has also led to the loss of medicinal plants and other natural resources that could have been used for economic
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development. The social costs take into account the displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods and properties, and conflicts over resources. The ineffectual policies in Nigeria have significant economic and social costs. The country's reliance on oil exports has resulted in an economy that is highly susceptible to fluctuations in global oil prices. This heavy dependence on oil revenue has restricted the development of other sectors of the economy, leading to high levels of unemployment and poverty.
The negative influences of environmental degradation on public health and access to natural resources have also had significant economic and social costs. The contamination of water resources, for example, has brought about intensified healthcare costs and lost productivity due to illness and absence from work. The degradation of agricultural lands has also brought about lowered crop yields and food insecurity, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, environmental degradation has contributed to social conflicts in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region and the conflict between crop farmers and the nomadic farmers known as herdsmen. The pollution of water resources and the displacement of communities due to oil exploration activities have led to tensions between local communities and the government and oil companies. These conflicts have disrupted economic activities and contributed to political instability in Nigeria.
5. Public Health Costs
The release of contaminants of anthropogenic origin into the environment represents serious public health concerns. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a group of environmental pollutants that interfere with hormone synthesis, metabolism, excretion, and functions in exposed organisms [7]. Nigeria's ineffectual policies have also led to significant public health costs, particularly with air pollution. The country has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the world, largely due to the burning of fossil fuels, industrial emissions, traffic congestion and bush burning during the dry season. This has contributed to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and other health problems both in rural and urban areas. A study by the World Health Organization found that air pollution in Nigeria was responsible for over 100,000 premature deaths in 2016 alone [10]. The health cost of air pollution was estimated at 2.1 billion US dollars, corresponding to about 2.1 percent of Lagos state's gross domestic product (GDP) [3]
6. Climate Change Costs
Another hidden cost of Nigeria's ineffectual policies is the impact of climate change on the country's economy and natural resources. Nigeria is already experiencing the effects of climate change, rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, flooding, and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts. These changes have big consequences for agriculture, water resources, and human health as flooding creates a conducive environment for mosquitoes and other pathogens.
7. Food Security Costs
Nigeria's ineffectual policies have contributed to food insecurity. The country's agricultural sector has been hampered by inadequate infrastructure for the past 45 years, and limited access to Government funds, fertilizers, and irrigation. Furthermore, climate change and land degradation have made it increasingly difficult for subsistence farmers to maintain yields and support livelihoods. Estimated 79 million people in Nigeria are currently facing food insecurity due to a combination of conflict, climate change, and economic factors. This has major social and economic implications, for the progress and development of Nigeria.
8. Political Costs
Nigeria's ineffectual policies have influenced its political stability and security. The country has experienced frequent political and social unrest, including protests, strikes, and ethnic and religious conflicts, often driven by economic and social imbalance, corruption, and poor governance. The lack of accountability in Nigeria's political system has caused a collapse in trust between the public and the government, bringing about increased political tensions and confrontations. Additionally, urbanization in Nigeria and the level of unhappiness are on the increase as there aren't opportunities
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for young graduates to secure good jobs or have a better life. The Nigerian politicians amass excessive wealth and make investments in first-world countries leaving the country vulnerable to internal threats. Corruption has also eaten deep into the Nigeria Political structure making it more difficult to eradicate bad performances by the political elites.
Conclusion
Nigeria's ineffectual policies have led to significant negative impacts on the country's ecological footprint. The country's dependence on crude oil exports, deforestation, oil exploration, and pollution of water resources has resulted in environmental degradation. Meanwhile, public health problems and economic and social unrest are the major drivers of political instability. To address these challenges, there is a need for political elites to advance and enforce realistic laws that encourage sustainable development practices. Policies that encourage diversified economic development beyond oil, including investment in agriculture and manufacturing, could help to reduce the country's dependence on oil and promote sustainable economic growth.
Public awareness and education on protecting the environment and advocating for sustainable development practices are also essential. Public participation in the management of natural resources, including water resources and forests, could help to support sustainable practices and reduce the ecological footprint. The Nigerian government needs to implement and realize policies that promote sustainable development, protect natural resources, and promote social and economic equality. This could include channelling funds to the realization of functioning renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management, as well as reforms to reduce corruption and promote good governance if possible. Lawlessness has eaten deep into Nigeria's social culture, there is a need for the reeducation of the entire public on the relevance of abiding by laws. Ultimately, addressing the hidden costs of ineffectual laws in Nigeria requires a long-term commitment on the part of the Government and public to sustainable development that prioritizes the well-being of both people and the environment.
Ecologically, the destruction of plant and animal species can disrupt ecosystem functioning, bringing about changes in nutrient cycling, soil quality, and other ecosystem services. Economically, loss of biodiversity can have harmful impacts on industries such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, which depend on healthy ecosystems to flourish. Furthermore, the loss of biodiversity can have a substantial effect on the social and cultural impacts on local communities, particularly indigenous communities who depend on natural resources for their survival and cultural practices.
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