Nigeria
Environment
Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the activities of the Nigerian
government in the area of protecting the atmosphere include: phasing out the consumption of ozone
depleting substances (ODS); monitoring background atmospheric pollution and the total column ozone;
data bank automation; a greenhouse gas inventory; climate change research and training; promotion of
environmentally friendly energy practice; and participation in the Global Environment Monitoring
Systems (GEMS).
The country’s strategy to single out the sources of gaseous emissions and maintain them at the level of
full compliance by the year 2010 includes inter allia a review of existing National guidelines and
standards to include vehicles, generating sets, aircraft etc.; public enlightenment campaigns on the
benefits of adequate maintenance, retrofitting, adopting effective technology, ensuring efficient energy
use, and increased cost benefit; Eliminate ODS consuming processes; green technologies and
promotion of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in all industrial facilities; and creation of an
environment fund for soft loans as economic incentives for environmentally friendly industries.
In 1993, a Regional Environmental Monitoring Station was established under the auspices of the Global
Atmospheric Watch (GAW) programme of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The station
monitors background atmospheric pollution. About 15 elements including surface ozone carbon dioxide,
chemical composition of rain water, dry and wet depositions, dust loading, solar radiation, and other
conventional meteorological elements are currently being observed.
Drought and desertification are the most important environmental problems affecting the 15 northern
states of the country. Population pressure, over grazing, and the continuous exploitation of marginal
lands have aggravated drought and desertification. The intensification of the use of fragile and marginal
ecosystems has led to progressive degradation and continued desertification of marginal agricultural
lands even in years of normal rainfall. It is feared that the damage by drought and population pressure
may have resulted in the genetic loss of a vast array of valuable plant species. Pressure on the
dwindling resources in arid prone areas has contributed to a number of devastating socio-political and
sectarian conflicts in the country with concomitant death, injury, and heavy economic losses. Nigeria is
presently losing about 351,000 square km2 of its land mass to the desert which is advancing southward
at the rate of 0.6 km per year. Entire villages and major access roads have been buried under sand
dunes in the northern portions of Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Borno States. With about 55% of its land
under siege from desert encroachment, Borno State, which suffered from a protracted drought in 19721978, is one of the most threatened land areas of Nigeria. Perhaps more spectacular, and of grave
consequence, are the persistent droughts which have resulted in famine a number of times in the
northern part of the country.
The country has developed a strategy to combat desertification and drought. These include
Establishment of Shelterbelts and Ecological Disaster Relief Programme. In this regards, the Federal
Government has enjoyed the support of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the World
Bank. The objective of the Ecological Disaster Relief Programme is to assist disaster prone areas to
ameliorate various forms of ecological problems ranging from soil erosion, flooding, desertification, oil
spillage, and general pollution.
Industry and Chemicals
In Nigeria, the Hazardous Chemicals and Toxic Wastes Dump Waste Programme was put in place in
1992 following the provisions of the Waste Management Regulations S.I. 15 of 1991. In addition, a total
ban on importation, transit, transportation, deposit, and storage of harmful wastes has existed since
1988. Under this programme, Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) officials operating at
the sea ports in the country can take samples of any suspicious consignment camouflaged as industrial
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materials for analysis at the Reference Laboratory of the Agency. In addition, FEPA has embarked on
chemical tracking by monitoring warehouses and outlets for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of
imported chemicals. The effort has succeeded in intercepting a host of banned and expired chemicals
as well as toxic wastes camouflaged as raw materials and products.
In concert with some of the provisions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Federal Government has approved a FEPAUniversity of Ibadan Centre of Excellence for training and research in the areas of: industrial, domestic
and hazardous wastes management; development or adaption of cleaner production technology for
Nigeria; reduction of gaseous emissions; and incorporation of "waste to wealth" strategies into waste
management practices.
Nigeria has National regulations on toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes and is also involved in the
implementation of some of the International Convention, Procedures and Protocols on Hazardous/Toxic
Wastes and Chemicals, and Radioactive Waste Management. By the year 1998, Nigeria will develop
National regulations on the Basel Convention on Transboundary Movement of Toxic Wastes;
procedures and protocols on the "Prior Informed Consent" concept for hazardous chemicals in
international trade, etc. In this way, Nigeria wants to achieve 100% compliance with both international
and National regulations, standards, and guidelines on hazardous/toxic chemicals and radioactive
waste management.
Water and Sanitation
Nigeria is endowed with abundant surface and groundwater resources whose availability varies with
rainfall, location, and geological formations. The variation in rainfall determines the drainage regime in
the country, the most important drainage systems being: the Niger River Basin drainage system, the
Lake Chad inland drainage system, the Atlantic drainage system to the east of the Niger Basin and the
Atlantic drainage system to the west of the Niger Basin. While various human activities draw on the
surface resources, the groundwater resource potential in the country has not been fully tapped. This is
partly due to the fact that it is comparatively more expensive to harness groundwater than surface
water resources. Also, it is technologically more demanding to exploit the crystalline rock aquifers for
water.
Biodivesity
The Federal Government's policy goal on the conservation of biodiversity is to ensure sustainable use
of forest resources and preservation of the many benefits accruing from soil, water, and wildlife
conservation for economic development. Among the current priority programmes in Nigeria are the
extension of National Parks and Reserves and the compilation of the flora and fauna of Nigeria. The
Nigerian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) reviews the status of biodiversity conservation
in the country in an attempt to fill the gaps identified in the country study programme, and develops
strategies and action plans to bridge the gaps in the conservation effort. The Government's mission is
that Nigeria's rich biological endowment together with the diverse ecosystems will be secured, and its
conservation and management assured through appreciation and sustainable utilization by the Year
2010. The Protected Area Programme identifies areas and sites of conservation interest. Four states
(Delta, Edo, Kogi, and Kwara) have been inventoried so far. Major achievements include: a) 32 game
reserves/sanctuaries and six National Parks, 12 strict Nature Reserves and 13 proposed Game
Reserves/National Parks across the country. The continual depletion of plant and animal species and
the degradation of ecosystem stemming primarily from economic motives have become an important
issue of growing global concern. Despite the unbridled rate of increase in the exploitation of biodiversity
globally, the rate of replacement has not been commensurate with use. Thus, the number of threatened
and endangered species is increasing. Biodiversity as the economic and socio-cultural base of human
systems, providing unquantifiable benefits to man and the environment including shelter, food, clothing,
medicine, recreation, and resources for industry, needs to be conserved and managed sustainably for
present and future generations.
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Natural Resources
Nigeria has a coastline of about 853km with Niger Delta covering about 80% of the entire coastline.
Much of Nigeria's population and economic activities are located along the coast. According to the 1991
census, approximately 20% of the population inhabits the coastal area. The Niger Delta is one of the
largest deltas in the world. This large expanse of wetlands covering about 20,000 square kilometers
and located in Southern Nigeria houses most valuable renewable and non-renewable natural
resources. The Niger Delta special area and its flank represent a complex but unique tropical
environment based not only on its geological setting, but the diversity of biotopes and production of its
resource base. It encompasses swamp forest, mangrove forests and inter-tidal mud flat areas.
Increased economic activities, rapid population growth and conflicting uses of the coastal zone have
resulted in several environmental problems. Some of these problems include; land degradation, erosion
and flooding, fisheries depletion, deforestation, biodiversity loss, introduction of exotic species, oil
pollution, gas flaring and solid waste pollution. Policies and Plans that have been developed specifically
to address the preservation and sustainable use of fragile ecosystem (mangroves) include: Creation of
mangrove forest reserves; Planting of mangroves in areas of mangrove deforestation; Akassa
declaration; Development of Niger Delta Action Plan; the Niger Delta Environmental Survey; etc.
Nigeria has recently instituted an Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) approach to address
the various environmental problems and to promote sustainable utilization of coastal resources.
There are National Policies and Strategies on environmental protection and conservation that cover
major issues related to oceans and seas. Nigeria has a National Policy on Environment launched in
1989, and revised in 1999. There is also the Green Agenda of the Vision 2010. The National Policy on
Environment and the Vision 2010 cover all major sectoral issues identified in the Agenda 21, including
issues relating to oceans and seas. There are also specific strategies/plans developed to address
particular issues.
Nigeria was once covered by extensive vegetation varying from humid tropical forests in the south to
savanna grasslands in the north. A great percentage of this luxurious vegetation has been removed in
the course of various human activities. Presently, forest reserves cover about 10% of the National
territory, mostly of the savanna woodland type. The southern rain forest, the source of the country' s
timber resources, covers only 2% of the total land area of Nigeria. It is being depleted at an annual rate
of 3.5% per year. This implies deforestation on a large scale. The persistent decline in the National
forest has been a source of concern to the Federal Government. In order to arrest this situation, the
Government has embarked on several programmes and projects on reforestation and afforestation.
Nigeria has the objective to increase the forest reserve from the present 10% to 25% of the total land
area by the 2010.
Land Management
Soils in Nigeria are variable due to variations in the geology and climate. Most predominant in the
country are the utisols which cover about 46% of the total area of the country. Such soil performs very
well under good management though it is of moderate to low productivity. Only 6% of the country is
covered by entisol, the high productive soil. Nigeria has also been classified into eight Land Resource
Zones, namely semi arid, dry sub-humid, sub-humid, humid, very humid, ultra-humid, plateau, and
mountain zones. Most, if not all of these ecological niches have witnessed pressure resulting from
uncontrolled socioeconomic activities leaving a large proportion of the land barren. From ecological and
economic standpoints, soil erosion is probably the most serious environmental problem affecting the
nation's soil and land resources.
It is estimated that over 90% of the total land area of Nigeria is under severe sheet, rill, and gully
erosion, with the severest gully erosion on 80% of Nigeria's total land area. Sheet erosion leads to soil
impoverishment as nutrients are washed away, loss of livelihood as farmlands become wasteland, and
pollution and siltation of available sources of drinking water. This exacerbates the increasing menace of
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rural-urban migration. Human lives and properties are. There are currently over 2,000 active gully
erosion sites spread around the country.
Mining and its associated activities are also sources of considerable environmental damage to surface
water, groundwater, and land. Health and safety risks are also considerable for people working in
mines or living close by. The resulting deterioration of the environment and human health, are seen in
existing mining wastelands all over the country, especially in the Middle Belt States, including Plateau,
Bauchi, Niger, as well as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Enugu. The degradation of the natural
environment has a negative effect on the long term growth potential of the country, even though
immediate economic benefits are being derived by individual enterprises. It is important, therefore, that
all approvals to initiate mining should be carried out in an environmentally sound manner, so as to
minimize negative impacts.
Nigeria has prepared a strategy to address these issues. The policy objectives and mandate of the
Nigerian Department of Agricultural Land Resources, established in 1980, have been refocused since
the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) to cover sound planning
and management of land resources consistent with the provisions of Agenda 21. The on-going activities
for this programme area include: the Soil Survey and Land Evaluation Programme; the National Soil
and Fertilizer Testing Programme; Soil Fertility Management and Fertilizer Development Programme;
and the Soil Conservation Programme.
Energy
Wood, petroleum, coal, gas, and water are the main energy sources in the country. Although solar and
wind energy are abundant, they remain untapped in commercial quantity. The principal current energy
source is fossil fuels with hydrocarbons accounting for over 90% of Nigeria's export earnings and 80%
of government revenue. The oil and gas sector has continued to be the backbone of the Nigerian
economy. This situation is likely to continue unchallenged into the future.
Pollution is a major health hazard with the levels of the gases emitted around highways and runways.
Gaseous emissions are major source of pollution, especially from fossil fuel burning processes and
processes using gas. The obnoxious gases include carbon, nitrous, and sulphur oxides (CO, NOx,
SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC), HC, ODS, smoke and particulates. The country is subject to
frequent oil spills and accidents related to oil exploitation. Oil exploitation has also lead to severe
conflicts with local communities in the Delta region.
The Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology, has prepared a National Energy
Policy that places emphasis on the exploitation of Nigeria's renewable and alternative energy sources
(wind, solar, and biomass), and provides guidelines for environmental protection in the exploitation of
Nigeria's fossil energy sources. It will soon be enacted into law.