THE CHALLENGES OF ENVIRONMENTALISM IN NIGERIA
Eze Chidi Nwauba Professor Of Intrapreneurship Department Of Public Administration, Prowess University, Delaware-USA E-mail: Dparlay@gmail.com Dr.prince@pu-edu.us +2349124673109 +22996547204
Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2025
With a population of over 120 million and a land area of 983,213 km2, Nigeria is a country whose environment bears the visible and invisible scars of human habitation. The human race's impact on the natural world has led to a host of problems, including increased urbanization, less forest cover, desertification, overpopulation, and pollution of various types. These shifts take place as a result of people's insatiable need for basic necessities including food, housing, entertainment, and infrastructure. Even if these needs and wants help the nation progress, they hurt the environment due to careless land and resource exploitation. The purpose of the regulatory agencies like the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) in Nigeria is to regulate the use of natural resources, as well as their management and conservation. However, data collected from the field shows that environmental degradation is progressing at a faster rate than it was before the advent of FME. In order to address these issues, it will be necessary to move beyond the goals and strategies outlined by FME. Indigenous peoples, especially core environmentalists, should lead efforts to preserve the environment. This course ought to be composed and conveyed in languages spoken in Nigeria. Humans should act as agents in the design process that takes into account the country's diverse natural zones. Primary and secondary school curricula should incorporate Environmental Education (which should cover environmental protection practices) to ensure a lasting impact.