Abuja: Dr. Michael David, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), has emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to implement new laws aimed at protecting both its environment and citizens. He highlighted this necessity during a conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in celebration of Nigeria's 65th Independence Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, after 65 years of independence, Nigeria requires legislation that aligns with its current realities, to effectively safeguard its people, ecosystems, and future development. Dr. David pointed out that at the time of independence in 1960, Nigeria's environment was largely unspoiled, with abundant forests, healthy mangrove ecosystems, and clean rivers. However, the country has since experienced significant demographic growth, rapid industrialization, and urban expansion, leading to severe environmental degradation.
Dr. David noted that deforestation is progressing rapidly, with Nigeria losing over 350,000 hectares of forest annually. The mangrove zones have suffered due to persistent oil spills, with approximately 13 million barrels spilled in the Niger-Delta, severely affecting mangrove forests. Water pollution is also a critical issue, with many urban rivers contaminated by industrial waste at levels beyond WHO safety limits. Air quality has deteriorated significantly, with urban centers frequently recording PM2.5 levels that surpass safe standards, and Port Harcourt facing hazardous black soot levels due to illegal refining and gas flaring.
He also highlighted the increasing frequency and destructiveness of flooding and extreme weather events. The 2022 floods alone destroyed over 200,000 homes, displaced more than 1.4 million people, and damaged over 300,000 hectares of farmland. Additionally, soil fertility has declined, desertification is advancing in northern Nigeria, and open defecation remains prevalent, with about 48 million Nigerians practicing it, leading to serious health and environmental repercussions.
Dr. David criticized the current regulatory framework as outdated and insufficiently robust to address modern challenges such as climate change, health impacts, and social equity. The existing Environmental Impact Assessment Act from 2004 does not adequately address the current scale of development and pollution.
To address these issues, Dr. David advocates for the passage of the ESHIA Bill, which would ensure that new infrastructure, resource extraction, and industrial and urban projects are evaluated not only for environmental impact but also for their health and social consequences. The proposed bill prioritizes the well-being of people and communities, mandates stronger standards including the consent of affected communities, enforces penalties, restructures oversight agencies to ensure compliance, and integrates disaster risk reduction strategies.