COMPENSATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DEGREDATION IN NIGERIA AND ITS EFFECT

ABSTRACT
Environmental degradation is occasioned by both natural and human activities. This has led to the deterioration of man’s resource which is renewable and nonrenewable. This study an investigation of compensation for environmental degradation is to evaluate the level that people affected are compensated. Questionnaire, and oral interview were used to gather information for this study. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed and 187 were retrieved. Findings at most revealed that 55.0% strongly agree that the environment was in existence before the advent of man, 35.2% strongly agree that the environment is very important to man, 55.0% strongly agree that man’s live is dependent on the environment, 54.0% strongly agree that man’s various activities has caused shifts in the natural mechanism of the environment, 35.3% of the population strongly agree that the environment is a natural resource that need to be conserved, 53.5%strongly agree that development have brought positive change to the environment, 56.2 % strongly agree that development has increased the standard of the living of the selected L.G.A, 53.5% strongly agree that the government is aware of the new development on the environment, 35.3% strongly agree that there should be penalties for the defaulters who refuse to implement compensation for environmental degradation in the selected L.G.A, 56.2% strongly agree that a healthy environment can be achieve through penalties on defaulters from environmental degradation, 53.5% strongly agree that law making agencies does not carry out daily routine, 65.7% strongly agree that government intervention on the site of degradation may become very helpful to the regaining of the degraded environment.Government should see to the education of the populace on the importance of the environment that it should be maintained and also laws and penalties should be put in place and ensure it functions from the federal level to the communities using capable personnels

Background of the Study
According to Ogboru, (2006), history and science both seemed to agree that before the advent of man, the environment already existed, and it’s therefore logical to rationalize that the environment proceeded human technologies and scientific development. It is right to postulated that this environment before the advent of man was pure and was discerned from biblical records, when God created the sum total of what was conceived as the environmentOgboru, (2006). He saw that it was good, man therefore inherited a good environment and was constituted as a superior being to conquer all the earthly natural resources, but not to destroy, pollute or degrade the natural resources that were created for the same superior beings (Acho, 1998). According to Acho, (1998), the occurrence of some natural degradation include; earthquakes and draught, which causes harm to natural environment, though the natural environment has inbuilt mechanism to absolve and eliminate some of the harm which originally occur in nature. According to Adediran, (2011), the intensification of the various activities of man has caused a shift in this natural mechanism by increasing the rate at which these incidents occur.

The above stem from the perspective of modern environmental imprudence, its known from the beginning of man’s creation, that man has been dependent on the earths ecosystem to provide him with the means of sustenance air to breath, food to eat, water to drink and other natural resources to advance quality of life. In other words, man’s basic needs are hinged upon good clothing and shelter(Adediran, 2011). These are entirely derived from land for life depends on it. The principle of quid planta or solo-solo credit, presupposes that land consist of the surface of the earth, the soil and air space above it as well as all things, which are permanently attached to the soil. And it also includes streams and ponds. Man, being owner of the most inhabitant of the world has his existence hinged on the reservoir of resources within his immediate surrounding for his own sustenance, he exploits the environment for all his needs. However, in this attempt to actualize his dreams of existence, the magnitude of his intrusion on the supporting web of the environment is generating an alarm that cannot be ignored. The consequences of the above situation are the large scale degradation that has been and is still being done to the environment.(Ogboru,2006).

1.2 Statement of the Problem
Degradation of environment is one of the most serious challenges before the mankind in today’s world. Mankind has been facing a wide range of problems arising out of the degradation of environment. Not only the areas under human inhabitation, but the areas of the planet without human population have also been suffering from these problems. The number of problems arising out of environmental degradation has been increasing and the intensity of these problems has, at the same time, been aggravating with time.

Land cover change takes place due to multiplicity of a number of natural as well as anthropogenic factors. All of them together bring about a change in the general environment of an area. Manifestations of the natural forces like forest fire, volcanic eruption, earthquake, tornado, tsunami, flood, meteor-fall, cloud burst etc. which occur from time to time, cause serious damage to the environment. Human activities can generate severe negative impact on earth systems resulting in environmental degradation. The truth is that the present man-induced or anthropogenic factors are causing many times more damages to the environment than their natural counterpart.

Looking back into the past we find that the use of fire by the pre-historic people is the initiation of man-induced environmental degradation. Production of food grain through agriculture, which came little later and initiated permanent settlement replacing the nomadic life style of the pre-historic people is another important factor to cause man-induced environmental degradation at a much faster manner. During that period these were not felt as problems. The dimension of these problems started to grow with human population and associated diversification of the economic activities. Hence an investigation of compensation for environmental degradation in Njikoka L.G.A in Anambra state.

1.3 Aim of the Study
The aim of this study is to discover how informed people are of the environment and laudable ways of achieving compensation for environmental degradation in Njikoka L.G.A in Anambra state.
1.4 Objective of the Study
• Assess the present environmental state ofNjikoka L.G.A in Anambra state.
• Identify principles of compensation for environmental degradation applicable to Njikoka L.G.A. in Anambra state.
• Consider current and future priorities for compensation for environmental degradation in the region
• Assess the various action plans for the sustainable environments development of the region by governments and their levels of implementation.
1.5 Research Questions
1. The environment was in existence before the advent of man?
2. Man’s various activities has caused shifts in the natural mechanism of environment.?
3. Do you know that the environment is a natural resource that need to be conserved?
4. Compensation for environmental degradation in Nigeria has effects on the standard of living of the dwellers?
5. There should be penalty for defaulters who refuse to implement compensation for environmental degradation in Njikoka L.G.A?