Population and Environmental Policies in Nigeria: A Part of the Whole of the Global Environmental and Population Challenges

Abstract

Policy for social-political action is an important factor that directs the socioeconomic and political activities in every nation, and acts as a guide for the nation in question into the future. Population and environmental policies at the global and domestic levels were necessary reaction to the ever growing human population and environmental consequences. Although the development apologists have argued that improvement in technology and science is the answer without controlling the human population, evidences abound that population growth is a serious challenge to the global and domestic environment (atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere). Having ignored the position of the development apologists in pursuit of controlling human population growth and environmental degradation simultaneously, the United Nations have aimed at developing and reinforcing policies in order to get the member nations keep their population and environment under check. Nigeria as a member of United Nations has subscribed to these policies in principle however; the policies in practice are yet to show positive results. This paper focused on investigating Nigerian environmental and population policies since her independence, the extent of implementation, the relationship between population growth and environmental degradation in Nigeria and implication of the present situation of the environmental and population policies in Nigeria, to the global environmental and population challenges. In view of the findings, the paper recommended a new approach to the formulation and implementation of environmental and population policies in Nigeria for better future of the nation and the globe.