Insecurity and peaceful coexistence: An environmental perspective

EVERY conflict situation requires a systemic understanding of remote and immediate causes before a sustainable solution could be achieved. In Nigeria, most conflict situations are not natural. Most recent environmental-related challenges are manifestations of abysmal use of land and the environment at large that resulted in conflicting relationships with one another. The environment is connected to peaceful co-existence and economic survival. Environment-generated communal conflicts have affected all the geopolitical zones of the country: North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-east, South-West, and South-South. The environmental problems can be summed up in the forms of desertification, drought, heavy water erosion, flooding, gas flaming and oil spillage, abandonment of the Lake Chad basin and the refusal to develop the rural agriculture communities, among others. The implication of the neglect includes competition for the available green vegetation between crop farmers and cattle herders, restriction of farming land to riverine areas, loss of land and ancestral family properties, population explosion in notable cities, food insecurity, social conflict and sometimes total displacement. Essentially, we are not futuristic about the way we carry out our activities in the environment. The situation is becoming difficult and multi-faceted.

In nearly all the northern parts of Nigeria, environmental conflicts are induced by claims and counter-claims of ownership of fertile land for farming and grazing. Drought and desertification are twin problems affecting all the northern states. The effect of desertification includes, among others, the movement of nomadic cattle farmers down South to find better grazing area for their cattle. Desert encroachment reduces the land area for farming and food production. Therefore, hostility over the use of limited available land resources increased, leading to erosion of cordial community ties and harmony. The challenge brings about identification with natural resources and the concept of indigene and settlers. According to Albert (2001), recent development shows that Nigerians live in mutual suspicion and distrust as host strangers face off in communities is increasing by the day.

The environmental challenges of the South-East region are the gradual and fast dissection of the land area by heavy gully erosion caused by population explosion, poor agricultural practices and deforestation. Human practices that engender gully erosion include vegetation clearances, overgrazing and urbanization. The implication of gully erosion includes the destruction of houses and properties, displacement of large populations and stiff competition for available land, which often lead to inter and intra communal conflict. Such conflict usually leads to migration, which eventually trigger ethnic conflict of indigenes and settlers. In the South-South, the first level of environmental related conflict is the ownership and distribution of valuable land and resources. The region has been experiencing inter and intra-communal conflict before the advent of oil exploration-related environmental conflict. The effect of oil exploration, spillage and gas flaring is monumental. Thus, limiting agricultural productivity, food insecurity, destruction of ancestral homes and forced migration. The development is a major reason for rural-urban movement of Niger Delta youth to cities like Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Ibadan etc. it eventually resulted in unnecessary population explosion in our cities.

The challenges of environmental conflict in the South-west can be classified into conflict of interest between nomadic herdsmen and crop farmers and population explosion in the urban centers. The development can be attributed to many years of neglect of the rural communities, poor forest conservation and non-segmentation of farming areas into crop and cattle farming. The neglect of the existing farm settlements and the arbitrary cutting and burning of trees are factors for deforestation and low food production. Environmental pollution in the South-West can be attributed to population explosion in cities like Ibadan and Lagos. The movement of able and agile youths from other geopolitical zones is clear evidence. These can be attributed to lack of opportunities and the environmental related issues of their ancestral homes. The implication of population explosion is high solid waste generation and expensive waste management coupled with high risk of epidemic diseases. A notable example was Covid-19 infection rate. It is worthy of note that Lagos, Ibadan,Port Harcourt, Kano and other major cities account for high levels of crime and social related conflict caused by population explosion. Kidnapping for ransom became popular in Lagos, Ibadan and other towns of the South-West. The June 16, 2021, Iwo Road, Ibadan interchange face-off was a conflict of economic survival among transporters, phone retailers and unguided commercial motorcycle riders; caused by population explosion, that is, large numbers of people operating on a small area of land.

There is no doubt that we have abandoned the rural areas which consist of large populations. Most, if not all, are unskilled workers eager to go to the cities. On getting to the cities, they realise they can hardly fit in for many jobs.

Therefore, they are easily attracted to illegal dealings, like drug peddling, kidnapping, stealing and other vices. It is important for us to consider the present environmental generated conflict as an opportunity to redefine our focus for development. There is no doubt that some crimes are mastermind in the abandoned rural communities and criminals in the cities run to the neglected rural communities for cover-up and transit to the foreign land.

All states should endeavour to give priority to rural development by providing good roads, electricity and agricultural revolution to create opportunities for Nigerian youths. Developing the rural communities will attract more people and will in turn reduce insecurity, as a frequent movement to such areas will increase. Mechanized, organized public sector supply of facilities, input and private sector driving agriculture would make a difference.

Tree planting and effective management of the trees planted are important to curb the challenges of desertification. Tree planting should be enforced by all states in order to protect topsoil from water and wind erosion. There must be strict and set out regulations on tree cutting and non-adherence should attract severe penalties.

Re-invigorating the Lake Chad Basin needed to be given priorities. The existing grazing zones and the proposed grazing areas must be revisited with fairness and collaboration with all stakeholders.

ItistimeforNigeriatoaddvaluetoitsdiversitybyembracingcomplementaryagricultural practice. Where the waste of crop farmers can be used as feed for cattle, while dung of cattle is converted to organic fertilizer for crop farmers. However, these can only be meaningful if we carefully map out our farming areas without sentiment. The environment is transboundary and cut across ethnic affiliation. Governments at the geopolitical zones or regional levels needs to intensify efforts and collaborate in regional integration in mechanized agriculture for the teeming youths and the construction of railway transport system as a means to develop rural agrarian communities, timely and easy transportation of large quantity of agricultural products, the birth of multiple opportunities along the railway lines and substations. Frequent movement along such a transport system will reduce insecurity. Investment in the project will be of long-term benefit to the people.

• Folorunso writes in via folorunsomoruff@gmail.com

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers…  Insecurity and peaceful co-existence: An environmental perspective ;  Insecurity and peaceful co-existence: An environmental perspective  ; Insecurity and peaceful co-existence: An environmental perspective  ; Insecurity and peaceful co-existence: An environmental perspective.