FEDERAL UNIVERSITY, DUTSIN-MA

FACULTY OF LIFESCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
FIRST SEMESTER LECTURE NOTE 2023/2024 ACADEMIC SESSION
COURSE CODE: AEB 413
COURSE TITLE: ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION
CREDIT UNIT: 2
COURSE LECTURERS: MANIR NASIRU

COURSE CONTENT (PART A)

 Concept of pollution (natural and Man-made),
 environmental legislation,
 Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA),
 National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA),
 Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), etc.
 Atmospheric and water pollution sources and potential impacts on vertebrates.
 Appropriate measures to be discuses.

Introduction

Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution has existed for centuries but only started to be significant following
the industrial revolution in the 19 th century. Pollution is a serious and growing problem
throughout the world today. The problem we are all aware today that pollution is an
increasing environmental problem. Although some environmental pollution is a result of
natural causes, most of it is caused by human activities; therefore humans have created a
problem which should be taken care of before other things.

Concept of Pollution
Pollution is the contamination of the earth’s environment with materials that interfere with
human health, the quality of life, and natural functioning of living things and their
surroundings. Pollution occurs when the natural environment cannot destroy an element
without creating harm or damage to itself. In other words, pollution takes place when nature
does not know how to decompose an element that has been brought to it in an unnatural way.
Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as
radioactivity, heat, sound, or light).

The pollutants may be classified as:

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 1. Degradable or non-persistent pollutants: - these can be broken down rapidly by the
natural process e.g. Domestic waste, garbage and sewage.
2. Slowly degradable or persistent pollutants:- these remains in environment for a very
long period of time, in unchanged condition, may be for few decades e.g. Pesticides,
aerosole
3. Non-degradable pollutants: - these are pollutants never get degraded by any natural
process. E.g. Toxic elements like lead, mercury, nuclear waste.

Types of Pollution

Major forms of pollution include air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise
pollution, light pollution, litter pollution, plastic pollution, , radioactive pollution, thermal
pollution, visual pollution, and Electromagnetic pollution

1. Air pollution

Definition: - it can be defined as addition of any contaminant to the air which causes harm
to the health of living organisms. It is the contamination of air due to the presence of
substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living
beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. It is also the contamination of
indoor or outdoor surrounding either by chemical activities, physical or biological agents
that alters the natural features of the atmosphere.

Sources of Air Pollution

1. Fuel burning operation for heat and power generation in large steam electric generating
plant, in-residence, in hotels, clubs, hospitals and in different processing of laundries,
Drycleaners, garage and service station.
2. The refuse burning operation in different, municipalities industries and residential
apartment
3. Burning of fuels for modes of transportation which includes trucks, buses motor
vehicles, and rail using petrol, diesel and gasoline.
4. Industrial and commercial process emission in different manufacture process namely
metallurgical plants, chemical plants, refineries mineral production, etc. Cause of air
pollution
5. Increase in population and traffic.
6. Development of industries.
7. Development of automobile engineering.
8. Thermal and nuclear generation.
9. Development of agriculture etc.
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Forms of air pollutions

There are many different types of air pollutants, such as:

a. Smoke and Dust

b. Gases (including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane,
carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons)
c. Particulate matter (both organic and inorganic), from industrials, power generation
plants, road-way dust. Etc.
d. Hydrocarbon- from automobile exhaust

e. Biological molecules.
f. Nitrogen compound
Effects of air pollution Air pollution is a major health problem because worldwide almost 3
billion people rely on biomass fuels which are mostly wood, charcoal, and animal dung for
household cooking and heating. Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and even death to
humans; it can also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, and
may damage the natural environment (for example, climate change, ozone depletion or
habitat degradation) or built environment (for example, acid rain). Air pollution can be caused
by both human activities and natural phenomena.

1. Sulphur dioxide - Causes suffocation, respiratory disease, Irritation of eyes and throat
reduces visibility

2. Hydrogen Sulphide - danger of respiratory paralysis

3. Hydrogen Fluoride - Cause skin disease

4. Carbon Monoxide - Causes lungs diseases and slow poisoning leading to death

5. Oxidants - Causes lungs diseases.

Controls of air pollution

i. Chemical waste should discharge into the air through fumes chambers
ii. Industries should be sited far away from residential areas
iii. Conditions must be created for complete combustion of fuel in internal combustion
engines

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2. Water pollution:

Definition: - It can be defined as “the presence of impurities and foreign substance in water
in such a quantity that lowers its quality and makes it unfit for consumption and causes health
hazard. OR “Any physical, biological or chemical change in water quality that adversely
affects living organism can be considered pollution”. Disposal of sewage wastes, solid
wastes, municipal wastes, agricultural and industrial wastes cause the environment unfit for
day to day use. Besides, polluted water spreads or leads to different diseases.

CLASSIFICATION OF WATER POLLUTION

1. Surface water pollution: - ocean, rivers, lakes get polluted in number of ways.
2. Ground water pollution: - is often caused by pesticide contaminations from soil.
3. Oxygen depleting: - when biodegradable material is added to water the number of
micro-organisms increases rapidly consuming available oxygen. When this happens
harmless aerobic micro-organisms die and anaerobic micro-organisms produce harmful
toxins such as ammonia and sulfides

CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

The water gets polluted by various causes and at various sources which are divided as:

a. Point source – Source is identifiable (if pollutants discharge from single identifiable
source then it is known as point source. For example, municipal sources, industrial
sources etc.)
b. Non-point source – Source is not identifiable. (if pollutants discharge from random or
scattered source then it is known as non-point source. For example, construction site,
agricultural site, Acid rain, animal waste etc.)
Cause & effects of Water pollution

1. Disease causing agents: the micro-organism including bacteria, virus, protozoa, if

present in drinking water causes disease. For example,
2. Oxygen depleting waste: organic matters present in water are degraded by
microorganism present in water which required oxygen. If large amount of organic
matter present in waste water then large amount of oxygen is required by the
microorganism to degrade the waste. Therefore oxygen content in water decrease. The
amount of oxygen consumed by microorganism is referred as Biological Oxygen
Demand (BOD). High level of BOC means large amount of waste present in water.
3. Water soluble inorganic chemicals: the elements like lead, mercury, cadmium,
arsenic adversely affect the human being and animals. For example, cadmium causes
Itai-Itai disease, mercury causes Minamata disease.

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 4. Suspended solids: if suspended solid present in water bodies, then water become
turbid and therefore proper sunlight does not reach to the aquatic plant and animal
which disturb the life of aquatic ecosystem.

EFFECT OF WATER POLLUTION

 Fertilizers and detergents act as nutrients and helps to grow algae which consumes
dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand increases thus kills aqua life.
 Domestic and commercial effluents provide more nutrients to micro-organisms thus
biological oxygen demand increases, killing aquatic life.
 Non-biodegradable pesticides travel through food chain and enters into the human
body and affect the nervous system
 Oil pollutants spill through oil tankers get spread over the water creating thin layer
over the water surface. This affect the water cycle and leads to death of water birds and
fishes.
 From mining Radio-active pollutants like uranium, thorium enters the human bodies
through food and water which get accumulated in blood thyroid glands, liver, bones
and muscles causing serious illness and death
 Excess amount of fluorides causes dental and intestinal problems.
 In general consumption of polluted water causes diseases like typhoid, dysentery,
cholera.
Control of Water Pollution

 There should be efficient and proper sewage disposal system

 Dumping of refuse or petrol chemicals by-products should be avoided
 Government or local authorities should strictly monitor all industrial waste
 Industries should be sited far away from residential areas

3. Land pollution (Soil contamination), or soil pollution–

Definition: - soil pollution is defined as contamination caused by chemicals and other

substance resulting in the loss of the fertility or the productivity of soil. The productivity
of soil is measured in terms of the yields of grains per unit of land. The indirect effect of
soil contamination is observed through the crop contamination. When such contaminated
grains are consumed by the human beings they affect the human health.

Land pollution is occurs when chemicals are released or other alteration in the natural soil
environment. It is typically caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) such as
industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. The most

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 common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons (such as naphthalene, solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals.

Sources of solid waste

Some of the sources of solid waste that cause land pollution are:

(a) Wastes from Agriculture: This comprises of waste matter produced by crop, animal
manure, and farm residues.

(b) Wastes from Mining: Piles of coal refuse and heaps of slag.

(c) Wastes from Industries: Industrial waste matter that can cause land pollution includes
paints, chemicals, and so on.

(d) Solids from Sewage Treatment: Wastes that are left over after sewage has been treated,
biomass sludge, and settled solids.

(e) Ashes: The residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned.

(f) Garbage: This comprises of waste matter from food that are decomposable and other
waste matter that are not decomposable such as glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, and
so on.

Effects of Soil Pollution

 It causes offensive odour when refuse decay

 It can cause respiratory disorder
 It destroys plants and animals life
 It prevents proper use of land for agricultural purpose
Control of soil Pollution

 Refuse should be burn in incinerators

 Sewages should be properly treated before disposal
 Urban waste should be burnt or braced

4. Noise pollution:

Definition: Noise is unpleasant, high intensity sound. Noise which pollute calmness of
society is called noise pollution, or sound pollution. It is the propagation of noise or sound
with ranging impacts on the activity of human or animal life, most of them are harmful to
a degree. Noise pollution which encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise, industrial
noise as well as high-intensity solar, these are mainly caused by machines, transport, and
propagation systems.

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 Causes of Noise pollution:

 Poor urban planning may give rise to noise disintegration or pollution,

 Side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the
residential areas.
 Loud music, transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.) in residential areas,
 Lawn care maintenance, construction in residential areas,
 Electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people.

Effect of Noise pollution - Noise pollution affects both health and behavior.

 Unwanted sound (noise) can damage physiological health.

 Noise pollution is associated with several health conditions, including
cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, high stress levels, and tinnitus,
 Noise pollution is associated with hearing loss, sleep disturbances, cognitive decline
and other harmful and disturbing effects.
 Anthropogenic noise can have negative effects on invertebrates that aid in
controlling environmental processes that are crucial to the ecosystem.
 Anthropogenic noise increase the risk of death by altering predator or prey
detection and avoidance,
 It interfere with reproduction and navigation, and contribute to permanent hearing
loss.

5. Electromagnetic pollution: is the electromagnetic radiation that are found in ionization

form (such as X-rays or gamma rays, full-body scanners) and non-ionizing form, (such as
Microwave, smartphones, tablets, radio and television transmissions, Wi-fi etc.).
Electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, microwave ovens, radio, and television
sets emit low intensity electromagnetic radiation at frequencies from 300MHz to 300GHz
that can be associated with microwaves. On the other hand power transmission lines and
electric devices are strong sources of electromagnetic fields (primarily electric for power
transmission lines, primarily magnetic for transformers, or electromagnetic for antennas)
and radiation of much lower frequencies but much higher intensities.

Sources of nonionizing electromagnetic radiation can be classified as:

1. Radio frequency fields (RFfields),
2. Intermediate frequency fields (IFfields),
3. Extremely low frequency field(ELFfields),
4. Static fields.

Effect of Electromagnetic pollution

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  electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), That means
that there "could be some risk" of carcinogenicity,
 increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, and associated with
wireless phone use,
 Microwave and other radio frequencies cause heating, and this can cause burns or
eye damage if delivered in high intensity, or
 Cause hyperthermia as with any powerful heat source.
 High on long exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone usage can
possibly causes Cancer and infertility problem.
 electromagnetic waves exposure from mobile phone can result to loss of mental
attention and sleep disturbance
 Fatigue, weakness, diarrhea, headache, memory problems and dizziness are
associated with expose to electromagnetic waves radiated.
 Changes in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, electroencephalographic
activity, and blood pressure have also been reported.

6. Light pollution: refers to the effects of any unwanted, inappropriate, poorly implemented
lighting, excessive artificial lighting during the day or night. Although this type of
pollution can exist throughout the day, its effects are magnified during the night with the
contrast of darkness. Light pollution is blamed for compromising health, disrupting
ecosystems, and spoiling aesthetic environments. Light pollution is a side-effect of
industrial civilization. Its sources include building exterior and interior lighting,
advertising, outdoor area lighting (such as car parks), offices, factories, streetlights, and
illuminated sporting venues.

Effect of light pollution

 Excessive light on the retina causes extreme discomfort in the eyes, especially in dim
conditions like during night time.
 Bright lights strain the eyes and also give headaches and migraines.
 If we observe, light pollution, thermal pollution and noise pollution all are types of
pollution that are caused by the different forms of energy.

Control of Light Pollution

 Utilizing light source of minimum intensity necessary to accomplish the lights purpose
 Turning light off using a timer or occupancy sensor or manually when not needed
 Improving lighting fixtures, so that they direct their light more accurately towards
where it is needed, and with fewer side effects.

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  Adjusting the type of light used, so that the light waves emitted are those that are less
likely to cause severe light pollution problems.

7. Litter pollution: consists of waste products that have been discarded incorrectly, without
consent, at an unsuitable location. Its drop and leave objects, often man-made, such as
aluminum cans, paper cups, food wrappers, cardboard boxes or plastic bottles on the
ground, and leave them there indefinitely or for other people to dispose of as opposed to
disposing of them correctly. Large and hazardous items of rubbish such as tires, electrical
appliances, electronics, batteries and large industrial containers are sometimes dumped in
isolated locations, such as national forests and other public lands.

About 18 percent of litter, usually traveling through stormwater systems, ends up in local
streams, rivers, and waterways. It can remain visible for extended periods of time before it
eventually biodegrades, with some items made of condensed glass, styrofoam or plastic
possibly remaining in the environment for over a million years.

8. Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products and particles (e.g. plastic bottles,
bags and microbeads) in the environment that adversely affects humans, wildlife and their
habitat. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized by size into micro-, meso-, or macro
debris. Plastic pollution can afflict land, waterways and oceans.

Some researchers suggest that by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans
by weight because from 1950s up to 2018, an estimated 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic that
has been produced worldwide has entered the ocean and has accumulated there. This large
amount of plastic waste enters the environment and causes problems throughout the
ecosystem;

Effects of plastic Pollution

 Living organisms, particularly marine animals, can be harmed either by mechanical

effects such as entanglement in plastic objects,
 problems related to ingestion of plastic waste, or through exposure to chemicals
within plastics that interfere with their physiology.
 Degraded plastic waste can directly affect humans through both direct consumption
(i.e. in tap water),
 indirect consumption (by eating animals), and disruption of various hormonal
mechanisms.

9. Radioactive or radiological pollution - is the deposition of radioactive substances on

surfaces or within solids, liquids, or gases (including the human body). The sources of
radioactive pollution can be natural and man-made. Following an atmospheric nuclear
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 weapon discharge or a nuclear reactor containment breach, the air, soil, people, plants, and
animals in the vicinity will become contaminated by nuclear fuel and fission products.
Such contamination can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or
injection. Radioactive contamination may also be ingested as the result of eating
contaminated plants and animals or drinking contaminated water or milk from exposed
animals.

Effects of Radioactive Pollution

 Radiation splits the molecules of the tissues into ions and free radicals and causes
mutation by breaking DMA (Deoxy ribo-nucleic acid) molecules in the nucleus.
 Radiation in bone marrow may cause leukemia (affecting the blood cells or blood-
forming tissues).
 Radiation can cause skin burns which may lead to skin cancer diseases.
 Radiation at pelvic regions of pregnant ladies, cause damage to the foetus.
Control of Radiation Pollution

 Care should be taken to check man-made radiation pollution at source.

 Nuclear reactor should be perfectly maintained to avoid accidental leakage.
 Nuclear test should be banned to avoid radioactive pollution.

10.Thermal pollution - Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural
body of water caused by human influence due the release of excessive heat energy into the
environment by artificial methods or natural disasters. It’s the degradation of water quality
by any process that changes ambient natural water body’s temperature.

Causes of thermal pollution

A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and
industrial manufacturers. When water used as a coolant is returned to the natural
environment at a higher temperature, the sudden change in temperature decreases oxygen
supply and affects ecosystem composition. Fish and other organisms adapted to particular
temperature range can be killed by an abrupt change in water temperature (either a rapid
increase or decrease) known as "thermal shock".

Effects of Thermal Pollution

 Organisms are mostly killed by the hot water instantly resulting into a high mortality.
 It changes the seasonal behavior and metabolic responses of organisms and leads to
unplanned migration of aquatic animals.
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Control of Thermal Pollution

 Heated water from these sources may be controlled with cooling ponds,
 man-made bodies of water designed for cooling by evaporation,
 convection, and radiation, cooling towers, which transfer waste heat to the atmosphere
through evaporation and/or
 heat transfer cogeneration, a process where waste heat is recycled for domestic and/or
industrial heating purposes.

Fundamental Causes of Environmental Pollution

1. Industries: Industries have been polluting our environment especially since the beginning
of the industrial revolution, In the 19th century and for a significant part of the 20 th century,
notably due to the increasing use of fossil fuels. Coal has been use to make machines work
faster, replacing human force. Though pollution by industries mainly causes air pollution, soil
and water contamination can also occur. This is particularly the case for power-generating
industries, such as plants producing electricity (May they be a dam, a nuclear reactor or some
other type of plant).
Also, the transportation of this energy can be harmful to the environment. We can take as an
example the transportation of petrol through pipelines; if there is a leak in the pipeline, soil
will automatically be polluted. At the same time, if the tanker transporting the petrol from its
production plant to the place where it will be consumed leaks or sinks, the water will get
contaminated.

2. Transportation: pollution caused by transport can mainly be attributed to fossil fuels.

Indeed, humans went from horse carriages to cars, trains (which, before electricity, used to be
propelled by coal), and airplanes. As the traffic is increasing every day, pollution follows that
evolution.

3. Agricultural Activities: Agriculture is mainly responsible for the contamination of water

and soil. This is caused by the increased use of pesticides, as well as by the intensive
character of its production. Almost all pesticides are made from chemical substances and are
meant to keep diseases and threatening animals away from the crops. However, by keeping
these forms of life away, harm is almost always made to the surrounding environment as
well.

Furthermore, as agriculture gets more and more intensive to feed the increasing world
population, more environments and ecosystems are destroyed to make space for the crops.
Some of them, like rapeseed –used to make oil – demand a lot of space for a relatively small
output.

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4. Trading Activities: Trading activities including the production and exchange of goods and
services. Concerning goods, pollution can be caused by packaging (which often involves the
use of plastic, which is made from fossil fuels) or transport, mainly.

5. Residences: Finally, residential areas provide their fair share of pollution as well. First, to
be able to build homes, natural environment has to be destroyed in one way or another.
Wildlife and plants are driven away and replaced by human constructions. As it requires the
work of industries, construction itself is also a source of contamination of the environment.
Then, when people settle in, they will produce waste every day, including a part that cannot
be processed by the environment without harm yet.

Fundamental Effects of Environmental Pollution

1. Effects on Humans: The effects of environmental pollution on humans are mainly

physical, but can also turn into neuro-affections in the long term. The best-known troubles
to us are respiratory, in the form of allergies, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal
passages, or other forms of respiratory infections. Notably, these well spread affections
can be observed when air pollution is high in cities, when the weather gets hot, for
instance. Pollution has been proven to be a major factor in the development of cancer.
This can happen for example when we eat reminiscences of pollutants used in the
production of processed foods, or pesticides from the crops. Other, rarer, diseases include
hepatitis, typhoid affections, diarrhoea and hormonal disruptions.
2. Effects on Animals: Environmental pollution mainly affects animal by causing harm to
their living environment, making it toxic for them to live in. Acid rains can change the
composition of rivers and seas, making them toxic for fishes, an important quantity of
ozone in the lower parts of the atmosphere can cause lung problems to all animals.
Nitrogen and phosphates in water will cause overgrowth of toxic algae, preventing other
forms of life to follow their normal course. Eventually, soil pollution will cause harm and
sometimes even the destruction of microorganisms, which can have the dramatic effect of
killing the first layers of the primary food chain.

3. Effects on Plants: As for animals, plants, and especially trees, can be destroyed by acid
rains (and this will also have a negative effect on animals as well, as their natural
environment will be modified), ozone in the lower atmosphere block the plant respiration,
and harmful pollutants can be absorbed from the water or soil.

4. Effects on the Ecosystem: In short, environmental pollution, almost exclusively created

by human activities, has a negative effect on the ecosystem, destroying crucial layers of it and
causing an even more negative effect on the upper layers.

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Environmental Legislation

Environmental legislation is the collection of laws and regulations pertaining to air quality,
water quality, the wilderness, endangered wildlife and other environmental factors. The
umbrella of environmental legislation covers many laws and regulations, yet they all work
together toward a common goal, which is regulating the interaction between man and the
natural world to reduce threats to the environment and increase public health.

Environmental legislation is essential for promoting environmental sustainability, both as a

source of guidance and as a source of enforcement. The success of legislation and policies
depends on 'policing' and action at all levels in society, from governmental organizations
through to civic engagement and environmental activist groups.

Environmental laws are worthless except they are effectively enforced. However, the
functions of environmental laws should be well understood for effective and efficient
enforcement. In Nigeria, environmental laws have been formulated and are being
implemented to:

1) Deal with a variety of environmental pollutions such as toxic chemicals, noise and others,
2) Control particular activities such as mining, power generation, and
3) Provide general guidelines for protecting basic natural resources such as water, air, land
etc.

The responsibility for the enforcement of the various environmental protection laws does not
lie with one specific body or organ of government, for instance, the responsibility for
enforcement of the pre and post 1988 laws formally lie with the overseeing ministry (e.g.
Forestry Act under Ministry of agriculture is enforced by Forest Rangers, The Public Health
Act is enforced by Public Health Inspector etc.) while the regular law enforcement agents
come in where a criminal offence is involved.

However, since the adoption of the National Policy on the environment in 1989 and the
enactment of more comprehensive environmental protection laws and regulation, the
enforcement of environmental protection laws in the country has assumed a more enhanced
institutional Some Federal Environmental Legislations.

For example you want to build an energy company (a coal-burning power plant to create
electricity for the community). Certain things must put into considerations to evaluate the
scope of environmental law.

 Where this power plant should be built?

 What type of pollutants might result from the coal burning?
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  What measures will need to be taken to control harmful emissions?
 Is the power plant is built at the edge of town to lessen air pollution for the human
population?
 How will this impact lesser species that inhabit the land downwind of the plant?

Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA)

Introduction
The Federal Government of Nigeria in 1988 establish the Federal Environmental Protection
Agency (FEPA) (now Federal Ministry of Environment with effect from September, 1999) to
protect, restore and preserve the ecosystem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The decree 58
of 1988 requires FEPA to establish environmental guidelines and standards for the abatement
and control of all forms of pollution.

History of Environmental Protection Agency Act

Before the establishment of Federal Environmental Protection Agency Act No 58 of 1988,

there was no National comprehensive statutory law that could be easily addressed as
“national Environmental Law” Although there were on ground various statutes on
environment. Due to lackadaisical and look warm attitude on the part of the Federal
Government, Nigeria had no specific national law that dealt with issue of environment.
Prior to the dumping of toxic and hazardous wastes in Koko village Delta state (five
kilometers from the coast in the former Bendel State) in 19 th September 1987. Nigeria was ill-
equipped to manage serious environmental crisis, as there were no institutional arrangement
or mechanisms for environmental protection and enforcement of environmental laws and
regulations in the country. With these episode the Federal Government of Nigeria woke up to
confront the problem of environmental abuse by promulgated the harmful waste Decree 42 of
1988, which facilitated the establishment of Federal Environmental Protection Agency
(FEPA) through Decree 58 of 1988 and 59 as amended in 1992. It’s on record that Nigeria
became the first African country to establish a institutional mechanisms for environmental
protection

Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) was then charged with the overall
responsibility for environmental management and protection across the country. This was
until 1999, when FEPA and other relevant Departments in other Ministries were merged to
form the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME), now (Federal Ministry of Environment,
Housing and Urban Development), but without an appropriate enabling law on enforcement
issues. This situation however created a vacuum in the effective enforcement of
environmental laws, standards and regulations in the country.

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To address this, in 2007 the Federal Government repealed the FEPA Act. (to ensure a cleaner
and healthier environment) and created, by law, a new institutional mechanism, the National
Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) as parastatal
organization under the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME), to manage the volume of
plastic waste in Nigeria.

The National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) first
create extended producer responsibility (EPR) programme. In 2014, published its EPR
operation guidelines, in 2016 commenced the operation stating with the sectors that probably
produces the large amount of plastic waste in the country.

Decree 58 of 1988 and 59 as amended in 1992

the promulgation of the two basic Decrees i.e The Harmful Waste Special Criminal Provision
Decree 1988, No 42; the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) Decree, 1988
No. 58 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Decree No 86 (hereinafter cited as
EIA Act) 1992.

The major functions of FEPA

1. Establishment of national environmental guidelines, standards and criteria most

especially in the area of water quality, effluent discharge, air and atmospheric quality and
including the protection of the ozone layer which in the past was absent (Federal
Government of Nigeria, 1988).
2. Others are noise control, hazardous substance discharge control and the removal of
wastes and ascertaining spillers’ liability.
3. The agency has power to initiate policy in relation to environmental research and
technology
4. Formulating and implementing policies related to environmental management.
5. FEPA is given some enforcement powers including the right to inspect facilities and
premises, search locations, seize items and
6. Arrest people contravening any laws on environmental standards and prosecuting them.
7. FEPA also empowered to initiate specific programmes of environmental protection and
may
8. Establish monitoring stations or networks to locate sources of and dangers associated
with pollution.
9. It has powers to conduct public investigations or enquiries into aspects of pollution
(Federal Government of Nigeria, 1988).
10.FEPA is therefore, the supreme reference authority in environmental matters in Nigeria
although state and local government authorities and institutions including their
environmental departments are still expected to play their traditional role of monitoring
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 and enforcing standards as well as fixing penalties charges, taxes and incentives to
achieve certain environmental goals.

Once the decision was taken to confront the problem of environmental abuse, Nigeria led the
fight against hazardous wastes dumping until the signing of the Basal Convention against
transboundary transportation of hazardous, toxic and radioactive wastes in 1989.

With the setting up of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, the States
Environmental Protection Agencies (SEPAS) were set up. These were complemented by the
Local Governments (LGAs) Environmental Protection Agencies.

However, industrial pollution was regarded by FEPA as a priority environmental problem

and hence the first ever and only “National Guidelines and Standards for Environmental
Pollution Control” was more of an industrial pollution control guidelines and standards with
few notes as guidelines for surface impoundments, land treatments, waste piles, landfills,
incineration and hazardous/toxic wastes. Moreover, even the available industrial pollution
control guidelines and standards are not sound enough and far from been enforced in the
country as it were presently. The main legislation for the protection of water resources is
scanty.

FEPA policy problem

The Nigeria’s industrial pollution laws and policies are largely outdated and thus very
inadequate. There are no specific regulations and penalties on the level of chemical and
industrial pollution on water in Nigeria. So far, there are no clear formulated policies in
Nigeria aimed at coordinating and monitoring the relationship between environmental
management and sustainable development. This is in spite of all the efforts of the Federal
Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA).
Presently, the environmental protection legislation in Nigeria is poorly enforced. There are no
incentives for the adoption of pollution abatement measures and very few disincentives for
polluting the environment. Wastes are disposed indiscriminately especially for small and
medium scale industries but excluding major establishments like the refinery industry which
is encouraged to adopt adequate waste disposal and good refining practices under the
Petroleum Refining Regulation of 1974.

Moreover, in the inventory of Nigeria environmental problems by FEPA (1999) in the

context of socio-economic, cultural and ecological imperations, environmental pollution of
water (industrial effluent, chemical fertilizers, human waste, eutrophication, deposits by run
offs, oil spillage, etc) and issues of health (water borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid,
dysentery brought about by the use of contaminated water) have been deemed critical and

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therefore deserves a place in any master plan for environment and natural resource
conservation.

Function of NESREA
The National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
are charged
1. With enforcing all the environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards, and
regulations in Nigeria.
2. It also has the responsibilities for enforcing compliance with the provisions of
international agreements, protocols, conventions and treaties on the environments to
which Nigeria is a signatory”.
3. To the Nigerian Head of Government, the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement of
ecosystem, integrity and sustainable development is very important.
4. NESREA does not have powers to enforce laws on matters of pollution, exploration and
exploitation of petroleum and natural gas. This hinders environmental justice.

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)

Act 2007

The Petroleum Regulatory Agency of Nigeria

DPR has the statutory responsibility of ensuring compliance to petroleum laws, regulations
and guidelines in the Oil and Gas Industry. The discharge of these responsibilities involves
monitoring of operations at drilling sites, producing wells, production platforms and flow
stations, crude oil export terminals, refineries, storage depots, pump stations, retail outlets,
any other locations where petroleum is either stored or sold, and all pipelines carrying crude
oil, natural gas and petroleum products, while carrying out the following functions, among
others:

 Supervising all Petroleum Industry operations being carried out under licenses and leases
in the country.
 Monitoring the Petroleum Industry operations to ensure that are in line with national
goals and aspirations including those relating to Flare down and Domestic Gas Supply
Obligations.
 Ensuring that Health Safety& Environment regulations conform with national and
international best oil field practice.
 Maintaining records on petroleum industry operations, particularly on matters relating to
petroleum reserves, production/exports, licences and leases.

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 Advising Government and relevant Government agencies on technical matters and public
policies that may have impact on the administration and petroleum activities.
 Processing industry applications for leases, licences and permits.
 Ensure timely and accurate payments of Rents, Royalties and other revenues due to
government.
 Maintain and administer the National Data Repository (NDR).

The federal government says it has scraped three oil sector agencies as required under the
new petroleum law. Under the Petroleum Industry Act, enacted in August, the Department
of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency
(PPPRA), and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) no longer exist. They are replaced by
the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NPRA, and the
Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, NUR

ATMOSPHERIC AND WATER POLLUTION SOURCES AND POTENTIAL

IMPACTS ON VERTEBRATES.

A. Potential impact of Air on vertebrates

 Releases of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (contributing to global

warming);
 Depletion of the ozone layer;
 Impairment of air quality;
 Smog (including particulates, ground-level ozone);
 Upper respiratory problems and higher rates of hospitalization (on human and
wildlife health);
 Acidification of lakes and rivers (acid rain); and
 Deposition of air pollutants on land and surface water bodies.

B. Potential impact of Surface water (freshwater lakes and rivers, etc.) on vertebrates

 Reduction in quality of habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms;

 Increased runoff and erosion;
 Depletion of fish populations;
 Impairment of water quality (pollutants, pathogens, bacteria, nutrients);
 Need for increased water treatment;
 Increased algal growth/blooms;
 Decreased biodiversity; and
 Encroachment of exotic, invasive species

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C. Potential impact of Groundwater on vertebrates

 Reduced groundwater quality (e.g., pollutants/toxins, hydrocarbons, pathogens,

bacteria);
 Impairment of drinking water quality;
 Need for increased water treatment;
 Reduced groundwater quantity;
 Surface water effects (quality and quantity);
 Explosions (from petroleum products, fuels).

D. Potential impact of on coastal areas / marine on vertebrates

 Alteration/degradation of quality of fish and other marine habitat;

 Depletion of fish populations;
 Increased disease and pathogens affecting fish;
 Impairment of water quality e.g., pollutants, (including petroleum products),
pathogens, bacteria, nutrients;
 Exotic, invasive species;
 Socio-economic effects;
 Reduction of tourism activity.

E. Potential impact of Land on vertebrates

 Depletion of renewable and non-renewable resources;

 Soil and groundwater contamination;
 Erosion/desertification;
 Reduction/removal of wildlife habitat;
 Removal/reduction of wetlands;
 Reduction in biodiversity (soil organisms, plants, wildlife);
 Increased surface water runoff / storm water runoff;
 Mining waste (tailings); and
 Opening of remote areas.

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