The erosion crisis, which is threatening homes, livelihoods, and the delicate balance of ecosystems in the heart of Nigeria, has become a serious threat to the fundamental foundation of communities. The complex structure of human settlements, agriculture, and natural habitats is faced with a vulnerable and uncertain future as once-stable landscapes give way to the relentless forces of erosion, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive and sustainable solutions to mitigate the effects of this environmental calamity.
The Nigerian erosion situation has been underway since before 1980. It is a catastrophe on all fronts ecological, environmental, economic, and humanitarian that degrades the land, claims lives, and destroys assets worth 100 million dollars. Over 6,000 square kilometers of the country’s territory were affected by erosion as of 2012, with about 3,400 square kilometers of that area being very vulnerable. The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) team estimated that gully erosion was causing $100 million in damage annually at the time.
Due to sandy soil’s inability to tolerate rainfall, gullies erode and eventually disappear, leaving gaping chasms that engulf buildings and other structures. Southeast Nigeria, which is the most impacted region in the nation, tripled the number of gullies and erosion-prone regions between 1976 and 2006, going from 1.33 percent (1,021 km2) to 3.07 percent (2,820 km2).
Floods, erosion, water pollution, and air pollution are posing a growing threat to Nigeria’s more than 830 kilometers of coastline. Because of the bedrock protecting the coastline eroding, communities in the Niger Delta states bordering the Atlantic Ocean have lost or are afraid of losing their homes and farmlands.
Desertification is causing forests to become extinct. Only 50% of the woods that were there in the area where they operate in 2007 are still there, according to Action Against Desertification, with the remaining 50% being washed away by erosion.
Erosion has long plagued the south-east of Nigeria, largely because of flooding caused by torrential rain. The cause has been cited as the changing climate. Numerous farms, houses, and other structures have been impacted.
Surface runoff is a primary cause of erosion. The gullies, which get bigger and deeper with each rain, are where the erosion most happens. The ravines, some of which can be dozens or hundreds of feet deep, have evolved into many gullies. Gully formation can result from a variety of natural processes, including excessive rainfall, inadequate soil penetration, and unsuitable catchment geometry.
Since so many Nigerians in the rural regions are farmers, the erosion crisis has forced many people to leave their homes and give up their means of subsistence.
More severe and sporadic rainfall is being brought on by an increase in climate variability in Nigeria. In one of the ten nation’s most susceptible to the effects of climate change, flash floods, landslides, and gully erosion have gotten worse, adding to the state of the land.
In both rural and urban Nigeria, an estimated 6,000 gullies were obliterating homes, pipelines, and roadways by 2009. Due to these harsh weather events, many Nigerians experienced anxiety and despair.
Part of the causes of the erosion crisis is poor waste management practices. These include throwing trash down drains and into waterways, which prevents the water from flowing as it should. If left unchecked, this method can cause erosion of the soil’s top layer and cause flooding.
Another cause is unsustainable land use techniques. Techniques like incorrect sand mining remove the topsoil, while crop cultivation’s tilling procedure loosens the topsoil, opening channels for runoff.
Erosion has devastating effects in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Both natural and man-made elements contribute to Nigeria’s erosion crisis. Loss of human and animal lives, loss of possessions, and depletion of land resources are some of the effects. Some of the suggested solutions include better farming practices, cultural gully control methods, and the passage of legislation outlawing any actions that encourage gully growth.
Nigerians should be made aware of the causes, effects, and challenges of erosion by the government at all levels and by those involved in environmental management, like the state and federal ministries of the environment.
There has never been a greater pressing need for preventative measures and inclusive policy. Nigeria can work to build a more resilient and secure future for Nigeria’s vulnerable people by prioritizing the voices and needs of the communities who are directly impacted, while also encouraging cross-sectoral partnerships and nature-based solutions.
