ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

URBANISATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

The natural environment is the bedrock of the survival for the living organism especially the animal world and humans in particular. When we talk of research, what are we researching? We are researching nothing but the natural environment. But what has natural environment sacrificed as a result of urbanisation? The natural environment has sacrificed the landscape in terms of plants. A development magazine states (2005): “industrial pollution from the over 5000 industrial facilities and perhaps another 10,000 small-scale industries, within residential premises is a growing problem in Nigeria. In places like Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Warri and Lagos, hot and heavy metal-laden effluent, is discharged directly into the open drainages and channels. Furthermore, some even go as far as defecating in the drainage at night due to lack of adequate toilet facilities”.   All these constitute environmental pollution and health hazards especially into the water.  And these wastes are discharged into the water down stream to t he detriment of both to human and aquatic life.

Furthermore, as a result of urbanisation which has led to increase in urban poverty, many of these urban poor engage in menial jobs like mechanics services littering the city-scape. What has been the consequence? That same development magazine mentioned earlier states: “the about 150 million litres of crank case oil disposed from mechanic workshops industries etc are discharged carelessly into drain and ground surface in the cities”. (Peter Cookey 2005).

URBANIZATION AND UNSAFE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES

            Illegal structures could be defined as structures or buildings erected on the right-of-way contravening building by laws, and at the same time lack structural stability and thermal comfort. Usually, these are structures erected out of desperation, dishonesty, greed and urban poverty. A major factor is urbanisation. Since these immigrants from rural setting to urban areas lack shelter and employment, they resort to putting up structures in form of sheds, huts in the built up environment to solve their shelter problem. Additionally, even the house owners or property owners are also culprits in the matter because of their quest for unlimited wealth; they take advantage of the poor and exploit them, by granting undue permission for such structures to be erected in front of their buildings.   Furthermore, I will also want to add that, certain professionals have also abuse their office in granting approval of such life-threatening structures. Urbanization has led to illegal structures being approved by illegal professionals; as it were