THE NIGERIAN ENVIRONMENT : A THREATENED HERITAGE
There are myriads of plagues that beset the environment some of which are brought about by man’s exponential drive to exploit earth’s finite resources, his “grab mentality” which sees the environment as an enemy that must be conquered to satisfy his needs. Man-induced changes in climate as well as the contamination of water resources cause grave damage to aquatic ecosystems. The disposal of manufacturing industries’ non-biodegradables, eroded particles and organic residues from mining lands and agricultural processes respectively, all threaten the quality and quantity of water supply on earth. There is also the introduction of unnatural agents such as gases and fumes that pollute the air, and Chloroflourocarbons which deplete the ozone layer that protects the earth from the intensity of the sun’s ultra-violet rays.
The depletion of forest resources is also of major concern. Man exerts intense stress on the existence of flora and fauna in the natural environment when he keeps cutting down trees wantonly and clearing forests for building and construction. In his KEYNOTE ADDRESS at the 18th Bassey Andah Memorial Lecture held in Calabar on 21 January 2017, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye threw light on these and other drivers of climate change in Nigeria and proposed strategies to deal with the devastating impacts of climate change.
