It would appear that we have little respect for our environment, if any at all. Nigerians are in the habit of dumping refuse in public spaces that should be kept clean.
Somehow we seem to have cultivated a culture of bold and unnecessary littering. Despite this, we complain about infrastructural challenges that are directly related to this habit. That is the irony of the situation. We are so quick to complain about overflowing gutters and littered streets and sidewalks when the simple fact is that we all play a role in causing these issues.
How many of us are guilty of casually tossing trash outside from our car windows as we drive? Or dropping plastic packaging in gutters or on the streets? All of these everyday practices play a role in the degradation of our national environment.
On a related note, the government has established in several locations that littering, urinating or defecating in public is illegal and outlawed, but the practice still continues, even under threat of paying serious fines or prosecution.
This problem exemplifies the consequences of individualistic thinking on the country as a whole. Most rational Nigerians are unlikely to dump and leave refuse in their own homes, but they have no qualms doing so in public spaces that are shared by all. We have very little concern for the consequences of degrading the environment that we all share. To make matter worse, the legal consequences of littering are merely a slap on the wrist compared to the long-term environmental consequences of mindlessly dumping trash.
Although it may seem like a victimless crime, littering causes death and damage to property. A flood in Katsina caused by blocked drainage systems in July 2018 led to the death of 44 and damage of properties worth millions of naira. Improper disposal of waste can also contribute to health conditions such as lung cancer and asthma from burning plastic waste and cholera, typhoid and dysentery from flooding.
Furthermore, if we were to encourage recycling as opposed to careless treatment of waste, it would create jobs, as indicated by individuals who have set up rather lucrative small-scale recycling companies.
Of course, the government has a role to play in making sure that there are effective and widespread receptacles for refuse so that people don’t have to resort to littering. However, even in places where bins are easily found, individuals continue to litter the streets. It is therefore up to us to do away with our habits of improper waste disposal. If we commit to using bins instead of the streets, not only shall we keep our nation clean, we would also provide jobs and alleviate current strains on healthcare. We must put therefore an end to the culture of public littering. May God bless our beloved country, Nigeria.
Funmilayo Adetokunbo A-A, a political and International Affairs Analyst, writes from Somerset, England, United Kingdom.