AN EMPIRICAL SURVEY OF GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

AN EMPIRICAL SURVEY OF GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 

(A CASE STUDY OF MINNA METROPOLIS)

ABSTRACT

In recognition of the persistent environmental and developmental challenges facing the world. The increasing awareness of the environmental value as a resource as brought into sharper focus the negative consequence of mismanagement of the environmental asset through there exploitation, use and misuse which constitute threat to the nature greatest gift to man. Thus, the study aimed at examining the impact of government environmental Policy towards enhancing sustainable development. The study objectives identifies environmental challenges that are peculiar to the area, examines the impact of government environmental policy on sustainable development, it determines the effectiveness of government policy on the environment and also investigates the level of compliance to existing environmental policies. Information was gathered through the use of primary and secondary data, the data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. 100 copies of questionnaire were administered to the occupant and 94 copies were returned. 25 copies were administered to officials of NISEPA. The research reveals that deforestation, pollution and high temperature are the major challenges of the environment. The project concluded that sustainability of the environment is influenced by three interwoven factors; environmental legislation, ethics and education. The study recommended that the government should ensure that there is adequate enforcement of environmental policies enacted. The government and environmental protection agency should create more publicity, orientation, sensitization and environmental education to the people so as to ensure compliance to environmental laws.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of Study

The concept “Sustainable Development has been in existence even before the 21st century” (Adesoji, 2011). It’s a socio-ecological process that is characterized by the satisfaction of human needs and still the quality of the natural environment is maintained indefinitely. The concept came into general usage due to the publication of the 1987 report of the Brundtland Commission formally, World Commission on Environment and Development. The United Nations General Assembly set up the commission that invents the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development which says “development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987 cited in Jiboye, 2011).

However, there are several other definitions that have been given to explain this principle; one of such surfaced from the National Affordable Housing Agency of Britain, describing it as a means of ensuring a better quality life for everyone, now and forever (NAHA, 2006). This is a process of building our communities to live comfortably, without consuming all our resources. It implies that we live in a sustainable way by conserving more of the things we all need and this is not just about consuming resources, it also includes changing our culture to make conservation a way of life (Adeyemo, 2008).

Although, the visions of sustainability vary across many regions and circumstances, a broad international agreement has emerged that its goals should be to foster a process toward development paths that will meet human needs while still preserving the earth’s life support systems and alleviating hunger and poverty, that is it’s that which bring together the three features of environmental, social and economic sustainability (William, 2002). “Also, sustainable development entails reaching an agreement among three contending sub-systems which have economic, socio-cultural and environmental dimensions” (Jiboye, 2011). Sustainable development is much more concerned with the relationship that exists between development and the environment. There is better understanding that more attention has to be given such that one can live a balanced life within the environment that should be kept away from destruction through human activities.

Remembering the persistent environmental and developmental challenges that the world is facing, in 1992 the Earth Summit in Rio-de Janeiro, adopted Agenda 21, which produced that global programme of action for a sustainable development in the 21st century (Lawanson, 2005, UN-Habitat, 2007 and Oduwaiye, 2009). The primary objective is the need to reduce the absolute poverty of the world’s poor by giving a lasting and securing livelihoods that minimize the depletion of resources, environmental degradation, cultural disruptions and social instability. The World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) of August 2002, urged in its plan of implementation that various countries in the world should take steps to make progress in the formulation and detailed of national strategies for sustainable development and begins their implementation (UNDESA, 2004).

Environment as defined in the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to include the water, air, land, plant and man or other animals living there and also the inter relationship which is existing among them. At the beginning of creation the environment was very conducive to live in, because human needs were still very limited compared to what is presently obtained. The environment has all life support system with air, water and land as well as the materials for achieving all the developmental aspirations of human.

Numerous environmental challenges can be noted throughout all parts of the country due to urbanization, deforestation, pollution, sanitation, flooding, population growth and this was the reason why Environmental Protection Agencies were established in almost all the states in the country. (Oghogho and Temitayo, 2007) environmental policies in Nigeria have their basis contained in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to section 20 of the constitution, the states have the power to protect and improve the environment by safeguarding the water, air, and land forest and wildlife of Nigeria environment. In addition to this, the section 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 1992 provide that the public or private sector of the economy shall not undertake or embark on or authorized objects or activities without prior effect on the environment.

However in accordance to the FEPA Act, each state and local government in the country may set up her own environmental protection body for protecting and improving the environment within the state. Each state is also empowered to make laws so as to protect the environment within its authority. All the states have environmental agencies and state laws; e.g the Abuja Environmental Protection Board. In Lagos, the Lagos state Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). The functions of LASEPA include monitoring and controlling the disposal of waste in Lagos state and advising the state Government on all environmental management policies. Niger state has enacted the Environmental Protection Agency Law, which established the Environmental Protection Agency. The Agency is charged with the responsibilities of identifying and proposes solution to environmental protection problems, monitoring and enforcing environmental protection standards and regulation in Niger state.

The environment calls a national guide and control of the purpose to which any piece of land is put. The pressure and strains put on the environment through physical development often cause a diversified environment of varying magnitude call for national attention and therefore makes national guide a necessity since large parts of the environment constitute “public facilities”. In 1989, the Nigeria government was publically committed to “sustainable development” which is based on managing the environment properly in such a way that the need of the present and future generations is fulfilled. Sustainable development is of the recognition that a healthy natural environment is an essential principle for a lasting social and economic development. Nigeria has pledged to manage its environment and promote sustainable development via a system of environmental laws to guide her citizens.

The need to guide these public facilities makes it the necessity to balance development progress and environmental protection. The necessity which calls for preventive measure that could evaluate, prevent, guide, regulate and possibly control the force of Environmental impact assessment as a feasibility test that must be passed before project execution borne out of the United Nation concern for the environment (Alayande, 2007). It was for this concern that made the world`s commission on Environment and development also known as the Brand`s commission.

As a measure against man`s want on exploitation of the natural resources to satisfy his needs. Government at the National, State, Local Government levels have made it mandatory for the production of an Environment impact Analysis report to support application for Town Planning approvals for any development that may have any town of impact on the environment. Such developments are residential, commercial, industrial, public, institutional, recreational land uses etc. With this Government gesture it is of hope that development will be orderly and so sustainable environment guaranteed.

1.2       Statement of Problem

Environmental issues have continued to dominate the discussion and consciousness of Nigerians. Since it is clear that the physical, chemical and as well as the biological integrity of our planet is being compromise daily. The destructive processes are not only continuous but are increasing both in quantum and in rate (Halidu, 2009). We live in a precious world blessed with natural resources, man’s insatiable demand for ever diminishing resource and worsened by a sudden increase in population growth especially in developing countries. The world may indeed be a beautiful place, but it is ever constant danger of destruction by nature and man. It is a world in which the greed of present generation gives little thought to the survival of future generation posing tremendous strains and stresses on the environment. Thereby resulting to the enactment of environmental policies by the government that enhance sustainable development.

There is a continuous removal of significant an area of forest cover which has resulted in a highly degraded environment. The built environment provides a synthesis of environmental, economic and social issues. It provides shelter for the individual physical infrastructure for communities and it’s a significant part of economy. The Construction industry, like other sectors of the economy, is at present an efficient and wasteful activity that create human habitat in a manner generally focused on profitability without consideration of its long-term impacts (Kibert 1999 cited in Alabi, 2012). An example, the land that is built on, the fuel to construct and maintain the building, water, and waste disposal are all provided by nature. At the same time, the construction process negatively impacts nature in several ways which include disputing the balance of nature, destroying the habitat, generating waste, creating pollutants, and altering the balance of natural systems (Alabi, 2012).

The degradation caused by erosion in Nigeria is occurring at an increasing and alarming rate, aggravated by such factors as increased agricultural activities, bush burning, civil construction works, deforestation, over grazing, drainage blockage, poor water management, urbanization and increased population pressure. Against the backdrop of a recent alert by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that about 20 states of the nation are prone to flooding, among which is Niger state. When sustainable practices are put into place, it is evident that constructed buildings are healthier for the environment and healthier for the people.

The study tends to provide possible solution to the listed problems

1.     Human activities that hinder environmental hazards

2.     Challenges of implementing policy by the government

3.     Environmental challenges in the study area.

1.3       Research Question

It is a known fact that the higher the environment degradation, the greater the negative impact on the environment if not properly controlled and it could endanger the human lives in many ways.

The study intends to provide answers to the following question;

1.     What are the significant impacts of government environmental policy on sustainable development?

2.     How effective are government environmental policy on the people living in the surrounding?

3.     How do the occupants of the environment comply with the policies?

1.4       Aim and Objectives

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of Government environmental Policy   towards enhancing sustainable development both for present and future generation in Minna Niger state.

In order to achieve the stated aim above, the following objectives are stated for investigation.

1.     To identify environmental challenges that hinder sustainable development.

2.     To examine the significance of government environmental policies on sustainable development.

3.     To determine the effectiveness of government policies on the environment.

4.     To investigate whether the occupant of the environment comply with the environmental laws.

1.5     Significance of the Study

The growing environmental challenge is reaching an alarming rate. There are cases of depletion of ozone layer, desertification, deforestation, flooding, erosion and pollution. However, most developing countries have long established laws and formal governmental structures to address their serious environmental problems, but few have been successful in alleviating those problems (Bell, 2002)

Despite the existence of environmental regulatory agencies and huge resource accrued into them as well as various attempts made by Government to ensure a well planned environment. Little is achieved of the inability to employ the use of physical planning procedure which according to Alayande (2007), is concerned with the formation, growth and maintenance of physical environment where in balanced social and economic objectives may be achieved. Since its establishment, a lot of money had been expanded on the agency in pursuance of its objectives and programmes; hence it is very important to undertake an investigation to control, its success or failure and achievement since its inception.

1.6 Scope and Limitation

The scope of the study is to investigate the environmental policy impact on sustainable environmental development. It also intends to identify the existing environmental challenges that led to the establishment of Environmental Agencies, (NISEPA) and to suggest possible solution to environmental problems in the area.

The study is limited to Minna, being the state capital of Niger state was chosen as the study location so as to have easy access to information require for the research i.e building construction related activities.

1.7   Methodology of the Study

The research work was carried out with the use of primary sources of data which involved observation and administration of questionnaire to the occupants of Minna. Relevant literature, textbooks, conference paper, literature review, gazettes, magazines, past project, journals e.t.c. relating to the subject were also reviewed consulted as sources of secondary data.