Environmental Pollution In Nigeria: Issues And Solutions

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Irrespective of the numerous environmental laws enacted to protect the environment, environmental degradation has continued unabated. Oil spillage and gas flaring activities are still commonplace in Nigeria, especially in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Gas flaring has also continued unabated irrespective of the Nigerian government’s directive to end flaring by 2010 (Kalu, 2009). The Idoho oil spill incidence of 1997 spilled 40,000 barrels of crude oil into the environment. It travelled all the way from Akwa Ibom state to Lagos state dispersing oil through the coastal states, up to the Lagos coast. According to the Department of Petroleum Resources, between 1997 and 2001, Nigeria recorded a total number of 2,097 oil spill incidents amounting to 1,947,600 barrels of crude oil. Thousands of barrels of oil have been split into the environment through our oil pipelines and tanks in the country. Enforcement of environmental regulations is still poor as industries continue to discharge untreated waste water into the environment. Heaps of refuse are always a constant sight to behold in Nigerian streets and markets.

Most recently, in December 2011, the SPDC’s Bonga offshore platform spilled about 40, 000 barrels of crude oil into Nigerian waters. On January 16 2012, a gas explosion occurred at the Finuwa oil field owned by Chevron Nigeria Limited. The Nigerian government was shockingly silent about these two incidents. This study however wants to identify the problems of environmental pollution and proffer solution to the issue.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

1. To identify the issues of environmental pollution in Nigeria.

2. To analyze the impact of environmental pollution in Nigeria.

3. To determine the solutions to the challenges of environmental pollution in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the issues of environmental pollution in Nigeria?

2. What is the impact of environmental pollution in Nigeria?

3. What are the solutions to the challenges of environmental pollution in Nigeria?

1.5 HYPOTHESIS

HO: Environmental pollution is not a major challenge in Nigeria

HA: Environmental pollution is a major challenge in Nigeria

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1. The outcome of this research will educate the general public on the issues and the adverse effect of environmental pollution in Nigeria.

2. The findings from this study is going to necessitate measures that will lead to demand for improved implementation of environmental pollution control laws in Nigeria

3. This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied, it will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.

1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study on environmental pollution in Nigeria will cover all cases of environmental pollution ranging from air and water pollution due to oil exploration and refining, effluent waste from industries, dump sites all over Nigeria market and streets and even noise pollution.

LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

 Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

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