IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has resulted in numerous impacts on the environment and the climate. Water bodies, the atmosphere and ecosystems have all been affected, and have experienced significant positive and negative impacts. Human health has not been excluded. It is no longer news that COVID-19 pandemic as well as climate change are somewhat interwoven and both are regarded as global emergencies. In this paper COVID-19 was found to have immense impacts on the Nigerian environment, both positive and negative. The positive impacts include (but not limited to) the following: The use of fossil fuels was grossly diminished as a result of the lockdown. Consequently metropolitan areas like Lagos, Portharcourt and Abuja enjoyed better air quality. The positive impacts also extended to biodiversity in areas like Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, as the reduced oil exploration activities promoted the enhancement and restoration of flora and fauna in the region. The positive impact include improved air quality, low levels of emission especially in highly populated areas like Lagos and Port Harcourt. This calls for a shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources to make sure these benefits are sustained. The COVID-19 also had a higher impact on agriculture, where COVID lockdown affected household food security and safety, poor management of waste, which could lead to water and other environmental pollution. There is need to sustain efforts at reducing emission levels, above and below ground carbon by making available renewable energy sources. Drawing from a brief global overview, this paper highlights and discusses the positive and negative impacts of the pandemic on the environment and environmental protection in Nigeria. Based on this discussion, it makes some important recommendations for Nigeria for the future.