When the Environment Fights Back

The environment is gradually degrading. The activity of mankind is having a cumulative negative effect on the environment. Hence there is a need to preserve this dying environment. Ezekiel Efeobhokhan (600 level Pharmacy) University of Benin reports.

Our environment is the place we reside, where we grow our food, where we get materials for our shelter, where we get everything we need in order to survive in this world. Hence it will not be bad if we do some acts to restore it. Our environment is a gift from God that every human must take care of. Now that our environment is currently facing several challenges, such as disrupting of its beauty, we suffer. Many catastrophes that have happened in the past are because of the brutish creatures that only knew how to destroy the surroundings.

When environment fights back

Udeme was barely 12 years when he was killed by the gully erosion that affected his environs. He had slept off while the rain was still drizzling. And before anyone could notice, the erosion rose to the
window level of the house. On trying the escape, in the dead of the night, he placed his foot in a place where the current of the water was fastest. He was swept away, only to be found few days after the water has subsided. “It took 5 days for my son to be found”, says Mrs. Usoro, mother of Udeme. Although this occurred 12 years ago, she still remembers the sad event just like it was yesterday. Mrs. Usoro is a single mother. She had moved from her husband’s state of origin, Ebonyi to settle in Edo state where the ugly incident had occurred. Udeme, maybe was innocent yet erosion killed him.

Erosion is one of the effects of improper environmental procedures, especially in Nigeria. The effects of environmental hazards are intertwined; like a vicious circle. Check this out; Global warming leads to climate change which can further lead to erosion.

In an interview with a National Emergency Management Agency NEMA staff, who simply gave his name as Michael Ugiavwe, he gave several reasons why persons are still victims of erosion.

“Most of the floods in Nigeria are caused by several nonchalant behavior and practices. For example, Useh in Benin is a chronically flooded area; the flooding here is simply as a result of lack of proper town planning. The agency that is responsible for the sale of land has refuse to outline and respect the normal water course. Water has its course, but when houses are built to obstruct those natural courses, there would be issues. Lands are sold indiscriminately to unsuspecting buyers and after building; they would realize they have built at the middle of the Atlantic. 

Also commenting, an architect, James Emohime, blamed the government for allowing illiterates to be in charge of sale of land in Nigeria; 

Hear him; “Persons who sell lands are usually illiterates. There is no proper planning hence except you have had previous knowledge on erosion capable terrain you wouldn’t know if your house would be covered in erosions in the future.”

The cheap price of land at erosion prone areas could also be the reason civilians still risk living in an erosion prone area. 

Mr. Thompson Onaiwu, a former landlord at an erosion prone area stated that he bought his land because the price was relatively cheaper than what he should have paid. However, he stated that no one told him that it was erosion prone, if not he would have steered clear of the area.

These are various environmental issues that need to be addressed. And until these are properly dealt with innocent children like that of Udeme told above will be made to pay the ultimate price. Whatever be the reason for erosion, there are lots of children lost to erosion yearly. Several others have been sent out of the comfort of their homes due to erosion attacks. They have been made to live in the cold, wild and abandoned; to suffer from terrible disease conditions. When environment fights back, the innocent suffers.

Another cause of erosion is global warming.

Global warming leads to climate changes; this is as a result of several human practices. Global warming leads to increased temperatures of the oceans and the earth’ surface thereby causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods. 

Causes for environmental degradation

Many of us have viewed and heard in the news that persons (including me and you) have invariably ended up creating a big mess in our environment. Although there's finger-pointing between genders, races, and countries about who's to blame, the truth remains: whenever the world suffers it will affect everyone. The entire world's problem will affect everyone, and everybody benefiting from this world should try to make contributions to find cure. Yes, contributions; whether small or great. It is no news that one of the leading causes of environmental pollution is indecent waste supervision.

Speaking on the causes, Prof Chris Oke, from the department of Environmental Biology University of Benin stated;

“Environmental hazards are very many. And most times their effects are very disastrous. Several of these effects are not very obvious but this is when their effect has not reached alarming levels. But they are dangerously high. Effects like global warming are as a result of cumulative offense against the ozone layer. Our environment is gradually degrading. We are currently living in the last phase of the very patient level of the environmental stretch. In various ways, the environment has been polluted by every human dwelling in it. Waste products are being produced by every human. Hence the urgent need to create a sustainable means of either proper disposal or recycling”.

He continued “Majorly, the main cause of environmental hazards in Nigeria is lackadaisical attitude towards matters as it relates to our environment. Whenever the effect of something is not observed clearly we tend to be very lazy in reacting to it. The problem is that many young person’s still live in self denial and avoid taking responsibility for the maintenance and recovery of the environment”.

Effects of Poor environmental practices

One of the effect has been discussed earlier, untimely death; especially children. They are the most vulnerable. Also, poor health.

Speaking to a medical doctor from Uyinosa clinic Benin city, she opined that the diseases casued by improper environmental care are much more dangerous and difficult to tackle than other forms of ill health. “Cancer is mostly caused by environmental factors and the case of cancer is increasing by the day”.

Due to the rising waste scattered around on depot which shouldn't be there, illness, land depletion, poison and many other disastrous results are being seen all over the populace. Rivers seem to be like oceans of endless trash while landfills seem like mountains. In order to totally diminish this destitution in our environment, something urgent and rapid need to be done.

Perhaps the most important subjects are the effects which are directly related to health. The pollutants that we fill our bodies with are increasingly being linked with various specific health issues. The air we breathe is getting thin and it's not getting any thicker! We attack Mother Nature routinely and then harming the ozone layer which actually protects us. Posterity will suffer more of these problems than we are generating for them. What a legacy we are leaving behind for them.

Ways to prevent

Nigeria needs to stand up to some fact. Everyone needs to add their voice in support for the sustenance of the environment.

With the ever increasing use of technology and industries flourishing the amount of pollution in our environment is increasing at a rapid pace. Keeping our environment clean is a very important part of our lives. It is important to focus on this as we have to make sure that the environment is preserved for future generations. Water pollution and improper waste disposal are considered to be two of the main cause of the environment being dirty. Erosion, waste management and deforestation are the major aspect of the environment that Nigeria needs to tackle urgently. Before the effects of neglect from these sectors be felt more harshly, several measures need to be taken and addressed.

Elaborating on the various ways to prevent these environmental challenges, Chinonso Oke a master student in Environmental technology, University of Benin gave some basic facts about the Nigeria environment. He related his suggestions to the indigenous environmental issues found in the country. And gave various approach that can save our environment. He began.

“The 3Rs are seen to be the most important and easiest way to keep our environment clean and refrain it from pollution. The 3Rs are Reduce, recycle and reuse. By reducing the usage of harmful materials, and recycling items and at the same time reusing goods that can be reused will reduce the pollution rate in the air and keep the environment clean”.

“Planting trees would increase the oxygen level in the atmosphere. This way there is an increase in the total oxygen content resulting in cleaner air to breathe and keeping environment clean”.

“Many people tend to litter. This is a bad habit as littering causes a rapid increase in pollution levels. Also, instead of throwing garbage around, there should be recycling bins on every corner of the road so that people do not litter. This will help in keeping the environment clean. Cigarettes are another harmful item that increases the air pollution as well as the well known health benefits.”

Also speaking, Dr. Mrs. Isioma Tango University of Benin. She opined that for the health implications she would not support the use of synthetic insecticide in the Nigerian market. Rather, she had called for the use of biological insecticide and pesticides. Adding that, these molecules from these chemicals could be source of terminal illnesses all around.

Solution to improper waste management

We are all aware that in order to diminish waste, there are many probable solutions, either gather them to landfills or burn them to lessen land depletion. The atmospheric emission that waste burning produces will cause a tremendous negative effect to the ozone layer. The carbon emission that it may contribute to the earth's atmosphere will lead to reduce condition for our climate. With the landfills and rivers loaded with waste the aquatic life will be greatly endangered. There is a solution that does not compromise the environment in addressing this issue: biosphere technology.

Biosphere Technology

Biosphere technology was invented by Dr. Chris McCormack. This technology uses a process that generates electricity through waste. This process is a gasification process that uses combustibility of solid wastes to create heat source that produces electricity; this electricity is green and renewable in form. Using this type of technology, waste problem will be a thing of the past. And with time, the electricity that will gush on every wire at home will be from waste converted to clean power. This could be the solution to the age long problem of Nigeria.

Role of Digital in curbing environmental issues

Eddy Uwoghiren a 4th year medical student, University of Benin raised the notion that lots of young Nigerians are currently on the social media platform but none are actually using this opportunity properly. According to him, a lot could be achieved with the digital world. “Our unserious government could be made to work if a social media user snaps or talk about any negative effect of the environment that was caused by the nonchalant behavior of any government employee; the topic would be made to trend and then, change will be made to whatever area we want it”. He further went on to stress the power of the youth with social media.

What you can do

There are lots of probable solutions that we can do in order to reduce the environmental problems. One of the recurrent problems of our environment is the incessant improper waste management leading to environmental harm. Due to the irresponsible use of human to our environment, it loses its natural beauty while gaining all of its benefits.

Companies

There are many companies that are now partaking on environmental causes. This does not only focus on the company's growth in terms of its assets but it also factors in the welfare of our environment. Some others are also trying to support each campaign for environmental conservation”.

Here are a few points for you.

Always remember to turn the water off when brushing their teeth or washing your hands. Letting the water run constantly is wasting the water and it should also be turned down instead of turning the water on full blast.

Also, turning the lights off when walking out of a room is another way they can help improve the environment and save on your power bill.

Nigerians should learn to sort cans, paper and plastics so it could be recycled. Also let your children know exactly how recycling can help the environment. If we didn't recycle then we would eventually run out of resources to meet the soaring supply.

Avoid standing with the refrigerator door open; that not only wastes electricity but it also allows the cool air to escape so the refrigerator must cool itself back thereby wasting more electricity.

Spread the word about preserving the environment to friends and relative. We all need to start with the basics in order to make a difference. Begin a self awareness campaign in your locality and try to give the environmental care its traction that it deserves.

There are many ways in order to save the environment; it is just a matter of true promotion in order to save the surroundings. It can be done with small and simple ways, or be involved with different environmental saving program.