ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT INTRODUCTION Environment accommodates all living and non-living creatures. It has a principle of given back in abundance of what you have given to it either good or bad. Anthropogenic features of man have impact negatively to our environment which making it hostile in response to most of our demand either naturally or artificially; such things are air, water, land and food which are no longer meeting up with the standard as ordained by God (environmental pollution). Several measures towards response and prevention of hazards (physical, chemical, biological, psychological and social hazards) in our environment have not yielded any palatable results. However, these factors increase the spread of diseases, infestation of pests and vectors, disasters of various kind, climate change, global warming, acid rains etc causing health problems, damages to properties, economic and social embarrassment, unemployment, psychological problems, death etc. This write up will draw our attentions on various laws and guidelines as to prevention of all factors impacting negatively to our environment. WHY ENVIRONMENT? Environment is simply a total surrounding. Environment can also be described as aggregate conditions that its influence affects both the living (animals, man and plant) and non-living (air, water, temperature, humidity etc) parameters. Man social interactions with the physical, chemical and biological environment towards survival and development causes destruction upon the nature. For instance, flood incidence that occurred in Nigeria in 2012 which affect some state like Kogi, Oyo etc claiming life and properties due to snake bites and other wild animal from River Niger. Also, incidence of fire disasters that occur in Oyo State (Alaafin Palace) and Former President House in Ogun State causes destruction of properties worth millions of naira. Disobedience and poor understanding about what we do is causing us hell on earth especially in the areas of sanitations. Several impact by man have degrade the value and anesthetic nature of our environment own to indiscriminate dumping of refuse, open defecation, indiscriminate discharge of waste water, blockage of drainages for commercial activities, illegal erection of sign boards, extensions of shops with planks/canopies, obstruction of roads with goods/sales of markets on road setback etc constituting nuisance and making the environment hostile via odour emissions, flies infestations, communicable diseases transmission, motor accidents, fire outbreaks etc. Safety which is seen as freedom from hazards is very important and need for public orientations towards a better environment. WHY ENFORCEMENT? 1. To maintain law and order 2. To maintain discipline 3. To prevent hazards. 4. To prevent disasters. 5. To promote public health 6. To protect the environment. 7. To prevent pressures of overcrowding. QUALITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM 1. You must have initiative skill 2. You must familiarize yourself with the environment 3. Have a good manner of approach 4. Be discipline 5. Work according to instruction. 6. Be respective 7. Never take law into your hand. Enforcement is seen as lasting resort for nuisance abatement after all measures have been utilized. Effective enforcement is the key to ensuring that the ambitious goals of our environmental statutes are realized. Enforcement refers to the set of actions that the government can take to promote compliance with environmental laws especially, National Environmental Health Practice Regulations, 2007, Public Health Law of Nigeria, Abuja Environmental Protection Board Act, Environmental Sanitation Laws, National Guidelines on Environmental Sanitations, 2005 etc. HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT LEADS TO ENFORCEMENT 1. Illegal display of goods on roads/streets 2. Illegal conversion of drainages to commercial premises 3. Illegal erection of structures (planks, containers), adjourning premises etc. 4. Indiscriminate dumping of refuse on streets, drainages, roads etc 5. Open/indiscriminate defecation/urination 6. Indiscriminate discharge of waste water on public premises 7. Lack of provision of suitable sanitary waste bins 8. Hawking on streets/highways 9. Accumulation of construction waste/material on road setback 10. Illegal mechanic/furniture/buccateria etc activities PROCESS OF ENFORCEMENT 1. Community sensitization(proper public enlightment) on factors that endanger environment and health 2. Inspection and identification of nuisance/environmental problems. 3. Given of oral notice or service of abatement notice. 4. Health and environmental educations 5. Verification for compliance. 6. Organize for the removal of illegal activities if need be; or 7. Apply for summons 8. Serving of court summons 9. Court sitting process. 10. Prosecution of defaulters. All these are essential for fairness, just and being civic in your action as a regulator of laws and policies. FACTORS THAT CAN IMPEDE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCESS: 1. Lack of fund 2. Lack of manpower 3. Unethical conduct 4. Lack of materials 5. Political factors. 6. Synergy failure. HOW CAN THE PROBLEMS BE SOLVED: These problems can be solved through:- 1. Adequate funding of environmental enforcement process 2. Adequate provision of manpower like EHOs, NSCDC, Police Officer, Environmental Marshals, etc 3. Ethical conduct is very important to prevent all form of disloyalty, dishonesty, indiscipline and corrupt practices. 4. Facilities for execution of enforcement work like operational vehicles, chains and keys, stationeries should be provided. 5. Influence of politicians should be seen as threat and all possible measures should be taken to manage them and achieve effective and efficient enforcement action. Finally, environmental enforcement is essential to enhance compliance and safeguard our nature from mans anthropogenic factors causing damages to properties, injury to health and degradation of the environment so as to achieve high degree of health and environment favourable for human habitations. Thanks.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 20:46:45 +0000
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