Development is the bait offered to the masses by politicians in Nigeria, promises to provide social amenities and utilities. Occasionally, when such promises appear to be backed by genuine efforts, they are implemented without taking the importance of environmental protection into cognizance.
Consequently, poverty and disease among other manifestations of under-development are on the rise, in spite of the many development policies and initiatives the government rolls out.
At no other time in the history of man has he been more pressed with the need to simultaneously generate greater amounts of energy and protect the environment. With an estimated global population of a little over 7billion people, the demand for energy has increased sharply from what it used to be few decades ago.
Energy demand and supply are major indices for assessing the level of development and standard of living in a country; hence millions of dollars are spent annually by the government on power generation.
While these increased expenditures on power generation have led to technological breakthroughs and massive industrialization, the greater demand for energy has more often resulted in destruction of the environment.
For many, development is synonymous with industrialization or technological advancement; however, development in the true sense of the word goes far beyond these. This is consequent upon the fact that "man" is the focal point of development, and that in the absence of humans, no amount of advancement or industrialization would be viewed as development. Indeed, all advancements witnessed in the various spheres of life may only be termed "development" given their positive consequence upon human activities and application by man.
Many of these developmental activities and efforts are however not sustainable and affect the environment negatively, consequently exacerbating the same problems they are meant to solve. Oil exploration and mining for instance provide jobs for thousands of Nigerians, this is expected to translate to improved quality of life for these, and indirectly to a much large number than those directly benefiting by way of salaries alone. However, the number of those directly and indirectly affected by the oil spills, gas flaring and explosions among other problems often experienced in oil producing areas of Nigeria are so colossal as to totally negate any benefits accrued from it.
Indeed, many such activities necessary for development are not sustainable and end up doing much harm as well.
Sustainable development is a process of development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their need. It is however unfortunate that in spite of its much touted sustainable development policies and initiatives, the issue of environmental protection in Nigeria is still being taken with levity.
And it does not require the special powers of a seer to reveal that like energy supply, environmental protection is crucial to attaining development.
During the first week of January 2012, the nation was brought back to stark reality by the explosion of a Chevron Gas facility that sent tongues of fire leaping several meters into the air, burning continuously on the coastal waters for several days without respite and claiming a number of lives. While Nigerians are well acquainted with such ecological disasters, the explosion in Kolouama community of Bayelsa state came perhaps as a harsh reminder to the fact that our environment is still the least protected of our resources. Already, residents of the surrounding communities have reportedly been experiencing breathing problems and lesions as a result of the harmful gases released; the effect of the explosion on aquatic life in the area is better imagined.
In most parts of the Niger Delta, many who were formerly fishermen have been robbed of their livelihood as a result of oil spills and gas explosions in fish rich waters, inevitably leading to untold suffering as a result of unemployment, and consequent spike in criminal activities. This is in addition to the ailments and diseases contracted as a result of exposure to poisonous gases from petroleum exploratory activities, drinking from water bodies polluted by crude oil and industrial waste. It is therefore not surprising, that in spite of the various government programs, funds and initiatives purportedly designed to elevate the people, the overwhelming poverty and disease have not abated.
Many formerly fertile farmlands of South Eastern Nigeria have become cavernous gullies, devouring much public infrastructure and expanding each raining season to claim more land and livelihoods with it. In the far North, the topography is changing from year to year as farmlands become dunes of barren sands and water bodies, vast expanses of arid land, depriving fishermen and farmers of their livelihood. In both cases, degradation of the environment makes the already poor much poorer, consequently, the expected increase in quality of life which should result from government's expenditure on national development goals (including poverty alleviation, improvement in health, provision of basic social amenities/utilities etc.) does not materialise or has little impact on enhancement of living conditions. So annually, the government boasts of the thousands of job opportunities it has created without disclosing the much higher numbers that have lost their livelihood, died or become victims of inexplicable illnesses as a result of environmental degradation. On many other occasions, old industries are resuscitated while new ones begin to function, most times pushing the environment and indeed, human existence farther and farther to the brink of destruction.
In view of developmental measures being taken, it should be recognised that just one environmental disaster such as a flood, could destroy much good and set any economy back by several decades. Perhaps the periodic Lagos floods should serve as an example through which we may learn that even intense efforts at promoting development may continually suffer setbacks when carried out in the midst of an environment in turmoil. More so, given the alarming rate at which Nigeria is losing her biodiversity (Nigeria has the highest rate of deforestation globally), destruction of marine systems and aquatic life, desertification in the far North and erosion of arable land, the implications on future generations are indeed terrifying.
Amidst the present rate of environmental degradation in Nigeria, one wonders; will a time come when future generations are faced with hunger and starvation, or have to depend totally on importedfood because the land can no longer produce? Will the desert continue to devour the land as the forests retreat or will the forests disappear, leaving stumps in the earth as a reminder? Will the evidence of industrialisation be our coastal waters laden with industrial waste, gas flares and fish drunk on crude oil? How can the government claim to be providing jobs when the environment which provides a large percentage of Nigerians with their means of livelihood remains degraded and unproductive? How can there be any realistic effort to resuscitate agriculture and encourage farmers when erstwhile arable lands have become cavernous gorges?
At the moment, the undeniable truth is that most developmental efforts are neither sustainable nor have any positive effect on the quality of life of majority of Nigerians. In addition to this, unchecked and unplanned population growth is taking place which by itself is exerting tremendous pressure on the nation's environment and resources. On the other hand, reducing deforestation will benefit biodiversity, and afforestation can restore degraded land, manage water runoff and benefit rural economies, consequently providing means of employment, livelihood and improving the quality of life at various levels. Concerted efforts to rejuvenate our degraded and damaged environment will contribute to the much needed development and preserve a robust environment for the coming generations.
For this reason, to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection must constitute an integral part of the national development process, and more importantly, attention must be shifted to development, promotion and integration of cleaner and renewable forms of energy into the nation's energy economy.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
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