Introduction
Every year, there are issues perceived to be more useful tools for political manipulations in Nigeria than the protection of the environment. This is more obvious during pre-election years, backed by an observable trend recorded through the past four decades that, every other aspect of the Nigerian polity is usually unconsciously subjected to political considerations, or relegated to the background in totality. At a glance, if the gradual loss of our environment does not appear to be a useful point to score political popularity, it will never be considered in the scheme of things and brought to the front burner. Politics as a whole unfortunately dictate what projects the government should pursue; the amount to be invested; where it should be located; and most importantly, who benefits from the contract awarded on the projects.
Thus, there is a general penchant to disregard important aspect of our existence, such as the environment, which eventually would be dangerous to the survival of future generations.
Characteristically, it is only the short term benefits that are more appealing. This explains our attitudes towards crude oil exploitation, environmental management, emission of carbonated gases into the atmosphere, and the production of power (electricity). Our environment continues to suffer neglect despite the fact that our very existence is tied to it. Another reason the environment suffers in Countries like Nigeria is that, while there is an increasing awareness (although too minimal to be taken seriously) that humans have the right to a clean and healthy environment (as stated for example in the Case Concerning the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary v Slovakia [1997] ICJ Report 92, and also in Juan Antonio Oposa and others v. The Honorable Fulgencio S. Factoran and others [1993] GR No. 101083), such a right is ‘non-justiciable’, even if environmental protection forms part of the fundamental objectives of the government.
In places like the Southern part of Nigeria (Niger Delta), and the Northern parts bordering the Sahara Desert, the environment is subjected to human and natural destructions, which in turn has birthed inconsistent and harsh weather conditions. For instance, some of the worst flooding in recent times in Nigeria were recorded in 2012 where about 2 million people were displaced, and 360 souls were lost. In that year, 32 States out of 36 were affected by flooding. Just last year (2017), flood led to the River Benue over-flowing its banks, causing the displacement of over 250,000 people, and the loss of crops and farms. Nigeria may not be alone in battling cases of flooding as other African countries such as Ghana, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and major African Cities and Cities around the world are susceptible to flooding, it is however, our action or inaction towards combating the continual changes in the weather conditions that set us apart from the world. The truth is we have generally ignored the dangers and signs of climate change.
The increase in floods is attributed to global warming. All over the world, global warming is seen as the increase in the average temperature of Earth’s surface, air and oceans since the middle of the 20th century and it is projected to continue. The temperature increased since the 20th century is caused by increasing concentrations of Greenhouse Gases, generated from human activities like deforestation and the burning of fossil fuel, such as, gas flaring. Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the rise in temperature on Earth as certain gases in the atmosphere are trapped. Scientist view global warming as a certain fact because there are evidence to suggest that the world will continually experience highs in temperature until the situation is arrested or controlled. For instance, the 1980s were the warmest decade on Earth’s history. But that was toppled by the 1990s. The 2000s were hotter than the 1990s. Sequentially, 1998 was the hottest year on record until 2005, then 2010 topped 2005, and recently 2017 became the hottest year for decades. In June 2017, the United Kingdom for instance recoded temperatures as high as 34.5 degree Celsius since June 1976, while in Nigeria; temperatures were as high as 42 degree Celsius with very high humidity. Globally, the changes in weather conditions has led countries of the world to pay more attention to the issue of climate change, and this has contributed to the concept of sustainable development and the transition to climate resilient energy productions.
Climate Change and Contributory Causes from Nigeria
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992, defines Climate Change as a change in climatic conditions, which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. The introductory part of this article has briefly drawn our attention to changes in climatic conditions in our localities. The question then will be in what ways has the Nigerian societies contributed to changes in climatic conditions?
There is no denying the fact that culturally and economically, the various components of the Nigerian geography depended and still depend on the environment for existence and sustenance. Historically, as a subsistent society, the environment provided us with everything we need to survive. As population and expansion sets in, natural habitats had to give way for food productions and settlements. The growth in trade and economic activities meant that huge expanse of the environment had to be compromised in order to cultivate cash crops for instance. Often, these resulted in the clearing and burning of huge forests yearly. This underscores the importance of the environment in shaping our lives.
Fortunately, clearing and burning of the forest for cultivation does not generally present a potent destruction of the environment in the large scale. The biggest dangers to the environment and contributor to climatic changes in our part of the world remains the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere due to population growth and urbanization, and industrialization of the oil and gas sector
Population Growth and Urbanization
Because of the political interests associated with population censuses and data collation by the Nigerian Population Commission, it is difficult to accept the figures presented by the Commission for the Nigerian Population. However, using the United Nations estimate as at March, 2018, the current Nigerian population is estimated at 194,515,983 (One Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Eight). More than half of this population are in the urban areas, and four of these urban areas (Onitsha, Kaduna, Aba, Umuahia) in a recent World Health Organisations (WHO) report in 2016, constituted the worst cities in the world for air pollution. As a matter of fact, Onitsha is ranked the worst city in the world for air pollution.
There is no denying this envious position at all. The factors that contribute to pollution in Nigeria are peculiar to the way of life of Nigerians. According to Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, ‘The contributing factors to pollution in Nigeria are a reliance on using solid fuels for cooking, burning waste and traffic pollution from very old cars.’ At home and in work places, due to unreliable electricity supplies, many Nigerians rely on generators and power plants to generate electricity for domestic and commercial usage. These machines spew out carbons and noxious fumes in often unventilated areas. As a matter of fact, gases emitted from use of generators and power plants, as well as from old cars and trucks in Nigerian urban areas are comparable to those recorded during the industrial revolution era. These emissions are unregulated, and where there are regulations, the enforcement agencies lack the discipline to implement any enforcement policy due to ignorance and widespread poverty.
Oil and Gas
By far, oil and gas remains the biggest source of environmental pollution in Nigeria. The oil and gas industry accounts for most of the revenues of the country, therefore, so much efforts and policies are cultivated to encourage more productions with little regard to its effect on the environment. The production of oil and related substances undergo different processes in the upstream sector of the industry. Because of the varieties found in crude oil extraction, Associated Natural Gas (ANG) for instance, which is a by-product of the extractive phase is considered as a waste product, and to avoid the cost of converting ANG into Commercial Gas, ANG is flared. Thus, In order to minimise cost, excess gas from drilling associated with natural gas or oil is burned or flared off, ‘releasing carbon dioxide emission (CO2), into the atmosphere, and conversely venting of the gas without burning, releases methane emission (CH4).’ Together, these gases make up about 80% of greenhouse gases associated with Oil and Gas to date.
The main sources of power generation in Nigeria are crude oil products. Products such as Diesel, Petrol, and Gas, are produced daily and gobbled up immediately by a population in dire need of constant energy supply. Despite the heavy investments in the oil and gas sector, energy production is still unsatisfactory, especially, considering that other alternative but better, natural, and climate resilient sources remain poorly unexploited. All these put so much strained on oil and gas production, and the environment bears the brunt of over dependence on the oil and gas sector. Recently, due to the huge reserves of natural gas in Nigeria, the view has been that more investment in natural gas is needed in order to boost the production of electricity. Natural gas thus far accounts for more than 80% of Nigeria’s generating fuel needs. However, natural gas is fossil fuel and a non-renewable energy. Although emissions from natural gas are low compare to other fossil fuels like coal and crude oil, it still contributes significant CO2 to trouble the environment. Thus, it is not a clean energy source.
Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Production
Sustainable energy production has been identified as one of the most (if not the most) important means of combating climate change. Sustainable energy sources are usually referred to as renewable energy or climate resilient energy. The impact of climate change and global warming as identified in this Article, has contributed to the growing awareness of the need to reduce the dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels (crude oil, coal, etc) as energy sources. Renewable energy refers to energy generated from natural sources which replenish themselves faster than they are consumed. It is by this characteristic of self replenishment they are also called sustainable energy. This type of energy is non-exhaustive, and has almost zero damages to the earth’s environment. The challenge has always been finding the renewable energy source that can compete favourably with fossil fuels.
Fortunately, Nigeria is blessed with abundant renewable energy sources that if cultivated appropriately, can compete favourably with fossil fuels, and reduce considerably the dependence on fossil fuels, thereby contributing to the reduction of emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As a fact, these sources are capable of solving the energy challenges facing the country. In this context, because of the over reliance on fossil energy production, renewable energy can be used as alternative and supportive energy sources in Nigeria. The challenges however remain how to overcome the technical, economic/financial, legal, and political obstacles to the production of affordable and accessible climate resilient energy in developing countries like Nigeria. Overcoming and finding solutions to these challenges is the subject of a critical analysis and investigation I am hoping to embark on subsequently.
Renewable Energy Sources
Solar Energy
There are numerous sources of Renewable Energy. This part of the Article focuses on Solar Energy. Other Sources where Nigeria is adequately blessed with include, wind, water, and bio-fuels. The later three will be discussed in subsequent parts of this Article which is a continuous process.
It is amazing that we potentially have excess electricity on our finger tips from sunlight yet we are unable to tap from it. Year after year, even in rainy seasons, Nigeria has access to excess sunlight that if properly harnessed and stored will go a long way in reducing the energy constraints face by the Nigerian populace. The United Kingdom for instance, even with less than a quarter of the sunlight we have in Nigeria yearly invest so much in generating electricity from sunlight, which in turn serves as clean energy sources for industrial productions, and domestic uses.
The above picture is a typical power plant station in the United Kingdom. Solar stations like this dot every corner of the United Kingdom. Below, is the famous floating power plant built by the Chinese government in China, and they are numerous other non-floating stations in that country.
Solar energy is cultivated through the use of Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that capture sunlight, and creates electrical current when the sunlight passes through the semi-conducting materials within the panels. The advantages of solar outweigh the disadvantages. Solar energy in Nigeria is unlimited and the supply is enormous. Cost of maintenance is exceptionally low, and the panels can last up to 25 years if there are not stolen. The disadvantages peculiar to Nigeria are that; it may require a significant initial financial output to set up a huge solar station and grid; and the solar panels could be exposed to theft if they are not adequately secured. Nonetheless, the cost of establishing sustainable Solar Power Stations with the capacity to provide consistent and clean power, which will also serve as alternative or back-up to fossil energy, is very insignificant compare to the billions of dollars invested in developing and distributing fossil energy, with very minimal positive results. The task of securing them is also minimal compare to investments committed in securing power installations for conventional sources of energy production.
Solar energy remains the best alternative climate resilient energy production source in Nigeria, if the Country is serious about arresting its failure to meet its target of generating 20 Gigawatts of electricity for over 40 million households, which was originally set for the year 2020. This is so guaranteed because every minute, enough solar energy hits the earth to meet the world’s energy need for one year. And very few countries have the potential of meeting that need like Nigeria.
Conclusion
If we desire a liveable climate, and because we owe future generations the obligation to ensure a liveable climate, we need to reduce, reverse, and stop the rise in global temperatures. To achieve this, we need to stop the burning of fossil fuels for energy. We need to establish for ourselves clean energy supply, in order to displace the sickening, dangerous and continued usage of domestic generators and commercial power plants powered by fossil fuels, with their damaging emissions into the environment. Thus we need lots of carbon free electricity and power sources, and the solar energy amongst other climate resilient energy sources, remains our best option.
Ufuo Asanwana (LLB, BL, LLM)
Partner Attorney and Consultant
THE LAW HALL (Ius Praetorium)
+44 7551 799415; +234 8062 626153
