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NIGERIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (NIMSA) STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND POPULATION ACTIVITIES (SCOEPA), AT THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA
6TH SEPTEMBER, 2012
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0VERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
The Environment The Nigerian Environment Major Environmental Issues confronting Nigeria Causes of Environmental Degradation, Pollution and Contamination in Nigeria History of Environmental Standards and Enforcement in Nigeria National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Some achievements of NESREA in the field of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Way forward in Reducing/mitigating environmental problems in Nigeria Responsibilities Conclusion
The Environment
The environment comprises all living and non-living things that occur naturally on earth. In other words, environment is mans immediate surroundings, namely water, land, and air and the associated living organisms and non-living resources. This term includes the following key components:
The surrounding that are common to all of us, including space, water, rocks, atmosphere, land, etc.
The mineral wealth of the country is vast and should enable it to establish a firm industrial base for rapid economic development. Generally, the topography is varied with rugged hills, undulating slopes, gullies, waterlogged areas, flat and undulating land surfaces. Specifically, it is characterized by southern lowlands merging into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in the North.
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All these problems are here with us, and they keep on growing more and more every day.
The main challenge of addressing these problems is the lack of compliance with environmental standards and regulations. 11
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Gully Erosion threatening the community settlement at the background in the Eastern part of Nigeria.
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Flooding
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Flooding
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Flooding
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Drought is linked to desertification, a situation of semi-aridity, featuring a tree-less landscape, sparse grasses and thorn bush interspersed with bare soil. Drought has occurred in the Sahel region of Northern Nigeria for a considerable period in the past. The droughts of 1972-74 and 1982-84 in Nigeria were very prolonged and severe indicating that land use patterns, population growth and soils are important elements driving this phenomenon.
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Effects of drought
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The precarious and delicate balance of the ecosystem is exacerbated by the massive intervention of human activities, especially, peasant farming and shifting cultivation, animal husbandry, annual bush fires and various construction works for development.
Desertification is seriously affecting some parts of the northern states like Kebbi, Yobe, Jigawa States were they are experiencing desert encroachments.
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Desertification
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Desert land
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Forest fires cause loss of biodiversity and release gases that cause air pollution and climate change into the atmosphere. It also exposes land to elements of degradation including erosion, drying and desertification which affects the socioeconomic activities of people in affected areas. In our local communities forest fires set by nomadic cattle rearers, hunters and agricultural activities have caused extensive loss of vegetation and wild life with local people subjected to loss of means of income and food. Smoke and particulate matter released by forest fires have been implicated in air pollution and global warming. Forest fires also expose land to various agents of degradation thereby promoting loss of arable land.
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Water Pollution
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Squatter Settlement
According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP), 37% per cent of the developing worlds population i.e. 2.5 billion people lack improved sanitation facilities, and over 780 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources. Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kill and sicken thousands of children every day, and lead to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more.
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Squatter Settlement
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Energy production and utilization in Nigeria (cont.)
Installing fluorescent lights or natural skylights reduces the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared to using traditional incandescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights use two-thirds less energy and may last 6 to 10 times longer than incandescent lights. Scientists claim that if you replace the conventional bulbs in your 5 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that are energy efficient, you reduce GHGs while saving money on energy bills. According to the Scientists, if every household in the U.S. could take this simple action, they would prevent GHGs equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars. Waste - Reduce, reuse and recycle newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Waste prevention and recycling reduce methane emissions and save energy.
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Energy Bulbs
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Energy production and utilization in Nigeria (cont.)
Recognizing that access to affordable modern energy services is essential for sustainable development, reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution proclaiming 2012 as the "International Year for Sustainable Energy for All There is need to encourage the use of renewable energies in Nigeria. A major benefit of substituting bio-fuels for fossil fuels is that, if done in a sustainable fashion, it would greatly reduce emissions of greenhouses gases. Sustainable energy Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Energy production and utilization in Nigeria (cont.)
Buy new or used vehicle that is fuel efficient. Drive smart. To improve fuel economy and reduce GHG emissions, go easy on the brakes and gas pedal, avoid hard accelerations, reduce time spent idling and unload unnecessary items in your trunk to reduce weight. Use overdrive if you have it. A well-maintained vehicle is more fuel-efficient. Keep your car well tuned and use the recommended grade of motor oil. Check and replace your vehicles air filter regularly. Check your tire pressure regularly. Under-inflation increases tire wear, reduces your fuel economy and leads to higher GHG emissions and releases of air pollutants.
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Air Pollution
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Global Warming
Air pollution makes people sickit aggravates asthmatic attacks, causes breathing (respiratory) problems - and promotes, in some instances, permanent lung damage, and cancer. Some air pollutants return to Earth in the form of acid rain, which corrode statues and buildings, damage crops and forests, and make lakes and streams unsuitable for fish and other plant and animal life. It harms plants, animals, and the ecosystems in which they live. Scientists predict that the temperature increase, referred to as global warming, will affect world food supply, alter sea level, make weather more extreme, and increase the spread of tropical diseases.
Scientists project that global temperatures are expected to continue rising as a result of increased emissions of GHGs into the atmosphere. Warmer temperatures could melt parts of polar ice caps and most mountain glaciers, causing a rise in sea level that could flood coastal regions.
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Some Critical Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Waste Management and Disposal in Nigeria
Waste management remains one of the most daunting environmental challenges facing the country today. It has continually remained at its lowest ebb despite huge investments in the sector. Currently, as a result of urbanization and rapid population growth wastes generation are faster than their management (collection, transportation and disposal) in many cities and towns because there are no corresponding infrastructural facilities to manage them. The management of wastes is far from being satisfactory in Nigeria for the following reasons: Town and cities do not really benefit from any organized waste management services; Where they are collected, it is often irregular and sporadic; They are disposed off indiscriminately, buried or burnt; and Recycling of waste is negligible and the final disposal methods are very crude. Such waste when left unattended to for some-time, constitutes serious health hazards, causes offensive odour, pollutes underground water sources, decreases aesthetics and environmental quality.
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Waste Management and Disposal in Nigeria (cont) What Is Waste? Waste could be defined as any unwanted, rejected, discarded and overused material that is no longer required for its original purpose. Another school of thought defines waste as a resource in a wrong place. This is because a waste to an individual may be a raw material to another person. There are basically two types of waste, namely: Municipal Waste or Non-hazardous waste which includes garbage, rubbish, ashes, street refuse, dead animals, abandoned vehicles, industrial waste, special waste (from hospitals, abattoirs); and Hazardous waste includes Medical, Chemical, E-Waste, Radioactive waste, etc 53
Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Waste Management and Disposal in Nigeria (cont) Major problems confronting effective solid waste management in these cities are multi-dimensional and can be attributed to the following factors: Urbanisation; Lack of foresight; Centralization; Shortage of manpower; Inadequate equipment/tools; Lack of maintenance culture; Lack of funds; Traffic congestion; Location of disposal site; and Weather condition and bad roads
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Waste Management and Disposal in Nigeria (cont)
The problems associated with waste disposal could be solved through the following strategies: Discourage migration of people from rural to urban areas through provision of social amenities in the rural areas; Adequate or appropriate town planning; Discourage over centralisation of waste disposal to single body; Training and retraining of personnel/labourers should be intensified; Provision and maintenance of vehicles and facilities; Adequate funding; Political will by the Government; Involving private sector participation; Robust awareness creation; Development and enforcement of Regulations; Effective management strategy involving all Stakeholders; Waste minimization: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbish, Repair; Accountability and Transparency; Good record keeping; and Setting up waste recycling facilities across the nation.
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Waste Management and Disposal in Nigeria (cont)
E-Waste in Nigeria. Nigeria is a recipient of a growing amount of used electronic and electrical equipment (UEEE) imported into the coumtry. Surveys show that over 500 containers of used computers and other electrical and electronic appliances are imported into the port of Lagos each month, primarily from Europe and North America.
It is known from various researches and studies carried out, that these equipment contain toxic substances such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, etc and when burnt, release highly toxic by-products into the air and pollute underground water, with high risks to human health and the environment. Due to the risk in these e-waste, the Agency is strictly implementing the National Environmental (Electrical, Electronic Sector) Regulations, S.I. No. 23
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Waste Management and Disposal in Nigeria (cont)
SOME SHIPMENTS OF E-WASTE REPATRIATED SO FAR MV Nashville lead acid batteries and used tyres (15th April, 2010); MV Gumel - The shipment of used refrigerators containing compressors with CFCs, used blenders, used water boilers, old carpets, used and old kitchen sinks, used and old videos, used old radios and TV sets, used old auto parts, 3rd June, 2010; Vera D - The shipment of used/old end-of-life CRT TV sets (6th October, 2010); Grand America -Two 40 feet sized containers of Used refrigerators containing compressors with CFCs, old model monitors, used/old CRT TV sets with no cable in some of them, used loud speaker, 15th October , 2010; Pac Antilia Used entertainment and consumer equipment (audio video surround receiver, console stereo amplifier, DVD Players) with broken parts and not properly packaged (16th May, 2012); Louis S - Used entertainment and consumer equipment (audio video surround receiver, console stereo amplifier, DVD Players) with broken parts and not properly packaged (July 11th July, 2012).
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Some of the effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health and the Environment include: Deafness: Sleep Disturbance: Interference with Communication: Disturbance in Mental Health: Heart Problems: Effect on Pregnant Women and Unborn Babies Effects on Animals:
What is needed in reducing Noise Pollution from vehicles and Its Effects include: Keeping our vehicles in good condition; Driving considerably and not horning unnecessarily; Lower the volume of musical sets; etc.
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Environmental issues confronting Nigeria: Sustainable Mining in Nigeria (cont.) Exposure to toxic substances in mining operations can lead to the following: DEATH, Headaches, Nausea, Fever, Coma, Asthma, Cramps, Allergies, Diarrhoea, Dizziness, Vomiting, Convulsions, Memory Loss, Blurred Vision, Chronic Fatigue, Rapid Heartbeat, Soreness of Joints, Tightness in Chest, Flu Like Symptoms, Respiratory Paralysis, Reproductive Failures, Elevated Blood Pressure, Immune Deficiency Disorders, Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders, Multiple chemical Sensitivities (MCS), Irritations to Skin, Eyes, Nose and Throat, Muscle Twitches, Loss of Coordination, Changes in Heart Rate and Liver function, Behavioural Abnormalities, Hyperactivity, Moodiness, Genetic Damage, Various Cancers. 67
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Contamination of surface water due to mining activities (Typical Artisanal Tourmaline Mine Site)
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Logging and Unsustainable Forest Exploitation: Logging is the harvesting of trees to provide timber for domestic use or export. The natural forests have completely disappeared. The forest reserves have also been illegally exploited in terms of timber, ropes and fuel-wood, exposing the environment to severe degradation.
Wood-Fuel Exploitation: There is widespread felling of wood for fuel, especially in rural areas that depend mainly on this source of energy. The dependence of the rural population (80% of the total population) on wood fire for energy needs and the production of charcoal have contributed to serious depletion of forest resources and environmental degradation. Hence, there is a call for alternative sources of energy in Nigeria especially in the use of renewable energy.
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For instance: gas flaring, vehicular and machines emissions reduce air quality, deplete ozone layer and causes various diseases; effluent discharge from manufacturing and printing degrade both land and water, and also causes various diseases; pesticides and herbicides used in mechanized agriculture degrade land and water; construction and associated quarry operations when not properly handled, degrade land and deplete bio-diversity; telecommunication transceiver mast affect environment aesthetic and in some cases, pollute ground water.
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Enforce compliance with guidelines and legislations on sustainable management of the ecosystem, biodiversity conservation and the development of Nigerias natural resources; Enforce compliance with any legislation on sound chemical management, safe use of pesticides and disposal of spent packages thereof;
Enforce compliance with regulations on the importation, exportation, production, distribution, storage, sale, use, handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals and waste other than in the oil and gas sector;
Enforce through compliance monitoring, the environmental regulations and standards on noise, air, land, seas, oceans and other water bodies other than in the oil and gas sector;
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National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)..(cont) Implementation strategy of NESREA The Agency uses amongst others, the following strategy to implement its mandate: Development of new, and review of existing environmental guidelines, regulations and standards; Advocacy visits to public and private institutions and major stakeholder Establishment of Zonal Offices in each of the six Geopolitical Zones, and State Offices in all the States of the Federation; Development of Public Awareness, Outreach and Environmental Education Programmes;
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Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
National Environmental (Construction Sector) Regulations, S.I. No. 19 of 2011 National Environmental (Control of Vehicular Emissions from Petrol and Diesel Engines) Regulations, S.I. No. 20 of 2011 National Environmental (Non Metallic Mineral Industries) Regulations, S.I. No. 21 of 2011 National Environmental (Surface and Ground Water Quality Control) Regulations, S.I. No. 22 of 2011 National Environmental (Electrical, Electronic Sector) Regulations, S.I. No. 23 of 2011 National Environmental (Wetlands, River Banks and Lake Shores) Regulations, 2009, S.I. No. 26, Gazette No 58, vol 96 of 2nd October, 2009 National Environmental (Watershed, Mountainous, Hilly and Catchments Areas) Regulations, 2009 S.I. No 27, Gazette No 59, vol. 96 of 5th October, 2009 National Environmental (Sanitation and Wastes Control) Regulations, 2009, S.I. No 28, Gazette No 60, vol. 96 of 6th October, 2009
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Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
National Environmental (Permitting and Licensing System) Regulations, 2009, S.I. no. 29, Gazette No 61, vol. 96 of 7th October, 2009 National Environmental (Mining and processing of Coal, Ores and Industrial Minerals) Regulations, 2009, S.I. no 31, Gazette No 63, vol. 96 of 12th October, 2009 National Environmental (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations, 2009, S.I. No. 32, Gazette No 64, vol. 96 of 13th October, 2009 National Environmental (Food, Beverages and Tobacco Sector) Regulations, 2009, S.I. No. 33, Gazette No 65, vol. 96 of 14th October, 2009 National Environmental (Textile, Wearing Apparel, Leather and Footwear Industry) Regulations, 2009, S.I. No 34, Gazette No 66, vol. 96 of 16th October, 2009 National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations, 2009, S.I. No 35, Gazette No 67, vol. 96 of 19th October, 2009 National Environmental (Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Soap and Detergent Manufacturing Industries) Regulations, 2009, S.I. No 36, Gazette No 68, vol. 96 of 20th October, 2009 88
Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
Undertook compliance monitoring of major operators across the nation to ascertain their level of compliance and amicably settled Public Complaints on environment related matters. Commenced prosecution of environmental crime cases; with appreciable success; Established reference laboratories in Kano and Port-Harcourt to assist the Agency in its enforcement functions ; Mounting of massive awareness campaign on radio, billboards and posters on various aspect of environment, including protection of endangered species;
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Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
Acquired Air Quality Monitoring Stations installed by the Agency in Abuja and Port Harcourt and operates handheld air quality measuring devices in some States to evaluate the quality of the ambient air; To find a lasting solution to influx and dumping of near end of life /end of life EEE in Nigeria , the Agency organized an International Conference on EWaste to address the issue and came up with the Abuja Platform for countries implementation and as input into the global discussion under SAICM. Has impounded and repatriated so many containers of end-of-life and near-end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment (E-waste);
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Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
Established working relationships with key stakeholders including, Police, Customs, INTERPOL and other security outfit to create synergy for effective enforcement; Development of curriculum on environmental enforcement, including CITES enforcement, for the Police Academy and their other colleges; Development of environmental training modules (including on wildlife matters) for other security outfits; In April 2012, the Agency embarked on profiling and environmental compliance monitoring of industrial facilities and Quarries in the country with so many environmental compliance letters and abatement notices issued. Facilities have started complying
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Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
Embarked on reconnaissance survey of artisanal mining in concerned states in the country, with the view of developing a compliance monitoring programme for artisanal miners; Continuous Sensitization in quarry sites on the use of PPE, good mining practices and general evaluation of the sites. Places visited include some LGAs in Nassarawa State, Kwara State, Zamfara State, and some states are yet to be visited; Begun the full enforcement of the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act in the construction and quarry sectors;
Conducting regular environmental awareness outreach programmes including production and distribution of Environmental Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials;
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Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
Enforces fully, the provisions of the National Environmental (Control of Emissions from Petrol and Diesel Engines) Regulation, which culminates in the effective ban on the importation of 2 stroke engines; and Motor vehicles not having emission reduction technology; Carried out a Demonstration Waste Control Project at Lokun and Emirin Polio Road, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State; and Amadi Flats, Elekahia Housing Estates, Rumuibekwe Housing Estates, and Rumuodara Area in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This entailed the distribution of three (3) colourcoded Waste Bins to each household in the designated areas, Training of the waste handlers; Sensitization of the residents on sorting of waste at source; and Construction of Waste Compost Plants to produce manure for gardening and farming;
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Some of the achievement of NESREA in the field of Environmental Standards Compliance (cont.)
Put in place consistent strategies towards protecting endangered species and curbing illicit trade in animal parts which recently resulted in the arrest and prosecution of a Chinese woman attempting to smuggle 6 pieces of polished ivory out of the country through the Murtala Mohammed Airport; Lifting of trade suspension on Nigeria and the rise of a new dawn in CITES implementation in Nigeria. Developed strategies for the establishment of Emission Testing Centers across the country through Public Private Partnership (PPP). Yearly emissions testing for all private and commercial vehicles will be carried out.
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Responsibilities
NESREA will like to seize this opportunity to encourage the Medical Students Association and the Medical body at large, to:
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Conclusion
NESREA is the new institutional mechanism created by the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure effective environmental governance through compliance monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws, conventions, standards and regulations; and NESREA is building and promoting partnerships with both public and private sectors, including civil societies, professionals like you and international organizations, to ensure proper policing and protection of the Nigerian environment , its natural and human resources. Everyone is important on this issue. It is a collective effort. The Medical Students are key Stakeholders to the effective implementation of the existing National Environmental Regulations, recognizing the fact that most ailments treated in the hospitals have environmental undertone. NESREA is looking forward to effectively partnering with you to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians.
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THANK YOU
NESREA