the role of a public health engineer

7/29/2019 The Role of a Public Health Engineer

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THE ROLE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEER IN NIGERIA

REVIEWING THE UNITED NATION MILLENIUM

DEVELOPMENT GOALS

CASE STUDY: TEDDER HALL, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

BY

RABIU WASIU ADESOYE

SUPERVICED BY: DR (MRS) AKINTAYO

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN.


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ABSTRACT

Sustainable urbanization is a global challenge. Rapid urban expansion without effective

environmental consciousness means that in virtually every urban center, a substantial

proportion of the population is at risk from natural and human-induced environmental hazards.

This paper examines some of the challenges of urbanization that has lead to the increase in the

intake of the students by the school authority and sustainable environment to cater for thisincrease. An assessment of the nations implementation of the United Nations Millennium

Development goals is done. The paper examines the goals pertaining to housing planning and

environmental sustainability and their application in Nigerian urban centers where schools

hostels were not let out.

It was discovered that none of the identified goals or targets has been adequately addressed at

tough within Tedder hall which one can easily infer that the same goes to all other hall within

the school. Therefore, the University of Ibadan is far from achieving Sustainable Development.

The paper concludes by recommending some urban planning strategies for achieving

sustainable urban development within the University.

CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABILITY AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN,IBADAN OYO STATE,NIGERIA: REVIEWING THE

MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

INTRODUCTION

The most serious problems confronting cities, towns and their inhabitants as identified in

Agenda 21(1996) include the following: spreading homelessness and expansion of squatter

settlements, lack of health and educational facilities, improper land use, insecure land tenure,

rising traffic congestion, increasing pollution, lack of green spaces, inadequate water supply

and sanitation, uncoordinated urban development and an increasing vulnerability to

disaster. All these have seriously challenged the capacity of government at all levels to realize

socio- economic development and environmental protection, which are all components of

sustainable development.

University of Ibadan has been experiencing an accelerated shift of her populations from the

intake of student due to high rate in the number of students choosing the school every being the


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primmer among others. This rapid rate of increase in population has engendered several

challenges and problems similar to situations in other parts of the Nigeria society which was

formerly not so. The problems identified in Agenda 21are prevalent in Mellanby hall. Todays

Nigerian city, according to Mabogunje (2002) is typified by substandard and inadequate

housing, slums, and lack of infrastructure, transportation problems, low productivity, poverty,

crime and juvenile delinquency. Urbanization, according to him is the root cause of the high

rates of environmental degradation, pollution and social delinquency.

In order to address the problem of poor housing planning and promote sustainable

development, the United Nations Millennium Declaration was adopted in September 2000, as a

means of combating housing, pollution, and disease out spread. This was done by the

Government official by reviewing the master plane of most the areas including schools in

which this report fall parts of. This was what lead to the 2006 census in Nigeria to met up to

the UN goals. This lead to school advocating to the federal Government to do all they can to

help increased the facilities within school such has drinkable water supply, renovation of the

sewage system since population planed for from design has increased . The goals include those

dedicated to eradication of malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability

and developing a global partnership for development. Nigeria is a signatory to the Millennium

Declaration and has a responsibility to implement the goals.

Various scholars have studied the challenges of sustainability and urban development in

Nigeria. Some of them include Falade (1999) whose study focused on the challenges of a

sustainable Nigeria.


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However, since urban development occurs in a continuum, this paper focuses on the effects of

a global development initiative, the Millennium Development Goals, on inadequate drinkable

water, pollution, hostel congestion, deterioration of facilities using Tedder hall in the

University in Oyo State Nigeria as a case study. The study examines the concept of sustainable

development on flood control, the challenges of over population, diseases out break within the

hall and adaptation in hall, and analyzes the implementation of the Millennium Development

Goals, in order to ascertain the level of achievement of the goals and targets especially those

dedicated to housing, portable water for drinking, check on disaster that may lead to lose of life

and properties and disease out break due to pollution which one of it cause could be

overcrowding.

CHALLENGES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

As this comes up, it will equally tell on the school environment has the school is a part of the

urban center which provide the society for learning. The Human Development Report (2004)

records that 45.9% of the 120.9million(2002estimates) strong population of Nigeria resides in

urban centers. According to Mabogunje (2002), residents of urban centers in Nigeria in 1950

were less that 15% of the population. By 1975, this proportion had risen to 23.4% and by 2000

was 43.3%. According to him, urban population growth rate is 4.8% annually; markedly higher

than the national annual growth rate of 2.2%(HDR, 2004). The prognosis is that by 2015, more

than half of the nations population would be urban dwellers wish may lead to poor housing

scheme traffic congestion and pollution due human activities.

STUDY AREA

Tedder hall been one of the premier halls of the University was built as far back as 1948 to

reside students. The hall is located at the central of the school administration sharing boundary

with the school Faculty of Arts and Mellanby hall with four blocks ranging from block A (for

the non finalist) to block D (the finalist block) with a population of seven hundred students.


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The hall equally have a central caf and a laundry. The hall still stands as check for all other

male hall within the school. So, the place of Tedder hall can not be over emphasis in University

of Ibadan.

THE UNITED NATIONS MELLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

At the 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit, the 191 member nations of the United

Nations adopted the Millennium Declaration. The following year, the Secretary General put

forward eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that contain 18 numerical and time-

bound targets and 48 indicators intended to improve living conditions and remedy major global

imbalances by 2015.

According to Mabogunje (2002), the 1991National Population Census recorded 359 urban

settlements of at least 20,000 people in the nation and estimated the figure to have increased to

450 by 2000.

Urban development problems in Nigeria could be viewed from both socio-economic and

environmental perspectives. Increase in the urban population has resulted in the proliferation of

slums and informal peri-urban settlements otherwise known as shantytowns. The shantytowns

as described by Aina (1990) are deprived settlements characterized by excessive residential

densities, largely uninhabitable housing and the absence of sanitation, building infrastructure

on water ways and social services.

Urban Public Health In Nigeria: Harpham and Tanner (1995), Atkinson et al (1996) and

Bradley et al (1999) in various studies discovered that urban dwellers in less developed

countries are exposed to the traditional scourges associated with living in a poor country, such

as malnutrition, measles, and malaria; afflictions resulting from newly modernizing societies,

such as obesity, cancer, and road accidents; and the deterioration of mental health and

increased rates of psychiatric disorders and deviant behavior that are associated with degraded

living conditions, overcrowding, and rapid social and cultural change in urban areas. All these

health consequences of urbanization are evident on the Nigerian city scene.


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1. Environmental Hazards in Tedder Hall: The environment provides all life supportsystems with air, water and land as well as the materials for fulfilling all developmental

aspirations of man. The hall environment today presents a grim litany of woes. The hall

today is especially vulnerable to pollution, diseases out break. Storm out break had

damage some part of the buildings. The waste from the cafeteria pose significant

environmental threat to hall residents.

2. Overcrowding within the hall: at the inception of the school as far back 1948, it wastwo people per room for block A and block C while it was then one person in a room

for D-block and B-block. At present the number per room has increased due to

increased in the intake of students. This has lead to diseases out break within the hall

and the number of student visiting Jaja hospital has increased.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED, 1987). The

primary objective of sustainable development is to reduce the absolute environmental

degradation, cultural disruption and social instability.

The Earth Summit (UNCED), which took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, recognized the

pressing environment and development problems of the world and, through the adoption of

Agenda 21, produced a global programme of action for sustainable development in the 21 st

century. Agenda 21 stresses the importance of partnerships in improving social, economic and

environmental quality in urban areas. It suggests renewed focus on effective land use planning

to include adequate environmental infrastructure, water, sanitation, drainage, transportation and

solid waste management, in addition to a sound social infrastructure capable of alleviating

hunger.


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The 1997 Special Session of the UN General Assembly set a target date of 2002, for the

formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development. National

governments are to integrate environmental, economic and social objectives into decision-

making by either elaborating new policies or strategies for sustainable development, or by

adapting existing policies and plans. It also reaffirmed that all sectors of the society should be

involved in their development and implementation. The World Summit for Sustainable

Development (WSSD), held in August 2002, urged in its Plan of Implementation that nations

should take steps to make progress in the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for

sustainable development and begin their implementation. (UNDESA, 2004)

The Millennium Declaration was signed in September 2000 in which all the member countries

of the United Nations agreed on a set of international development targets, designed to help

create a better world and to halve the scourge of related environmental problems by the year

2015. This study therefore analyzes the extent of compliance with these goals in the process of

urban development in Nigeria

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The MDGs are a set of minimal goals necessary for human development. The MDGs, with

their high level of international consensus, also offer the possibility of tackling multiple issues

at once, and in an integrated manner. For example, improving access to water and sanitation

(goal 7) cannot be achieved without an understanding of gender roles and needs (goal 3).

The eight Millennium Development Goals are:

Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4. Reduce child mortality

Goal 5. Improve maternal health


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Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development

For the purpose of this paper, Goals7 that focus on environmental sustainability will be

considered to determine their success or otherwise with regards to urban development in

Nigeria. The relevant goals and their targets and indicators are tabulated below

TABLE 1: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 1 AND 7(GOALS, TARGETS AND

INDICATORS)

GOAL TARGET INDICATOR

GOAL 7ENSURE

ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAIBABILITY

1. Integrate the principles ofsustainable development intocountries policies and

programmes and reverse theloss of environmental resources

1. Proportion of land area covered by forest2. Ratio of area protected to mainta

biological diversity to surface area

3. Energy usage (kg oil equivalent) per US$GDP (PPP)

4. Carbon Dioxide Emission per capita, anconsumption of ozone depleting CFCs

5. Proportion of population using solid fuels2. Halve by 2015, theproportion of people withoutsustainable access to safedrinking water and sanitation

6. Proportion of population with sustainabaccess to an improved water source, urband regional

7. Proportion of population with access improved sanitation, urban and rurimproved sanitation, urban and rural

3. By 2020, Achieve SignificantImprovement in the lives of atleast 100million slum dwellers

8. Proportion of households with access secure tenure

Source: United Nations Development Programme (2001) The Millennium Development Goals

www.undp.org/mdg;

GOAL 7 - ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAIBABILITY

TARGET 9: INTEGRATE THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TO

COUNTRYS POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES AND REVERSE THE LOSS OF

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES.
http://www.undp.org/mdghttp://www.undp.org/mdg


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Nigeria covers a land surface area of 923,800 square kilometers. Figures for Nigeria with

regards to the MDG Indicators relevant to this target are as follows:

TABLE4 : MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL7- TARGET 9 STATISTICS FOR

NIGERIA

Indicators: 1990 1995 2001

Proportion of Land Area covered by forests (2.07%)19,200 sqkm

(1.60%)14,800sqkm

Proportion of land area protected to maintainbiodiversity

32357sqkm

32357sqkm

Energy usage (kg oil equivalent) per US $1 GDP(PPP)

1.0 1.1 1.2

Proportion of Population using solid fuels 82.3million

Source : i. UNDP Human Development Report 2003 www.hdr.undp.orgii. United Nations Statistics Division (2003) UNSD Millennium indicator Database

www.milleniumindicators.un.org

iii. World Bank (2004) World Development Indicators Database, August 2004www.worldbank.org

Nigeria is a party to international Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change,

Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,

Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection and Whaling. However

the nation is not a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention of Climate

Change. At the national level, various environmental laws have also been enacted and some of

them are the Land Use Decree of 1978; Endangered Species Act of 1985 Federal

Environmental Protection Agency Act, Cap 131 of 1988; Environmental Impact Assessment

Decree 86 of 1992, and the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Decree 88 of 1992.

Nigeria is presently losing annually, about 351,000 sq km of its land mass to the desert which

is advancing southward at the rate of 0.6 km per year.(FOS, 1997) The intensification of the

use of fragile and marginal ecosystems has led to progressive degradation and continued

desertification of marginal agricultural lands Flash floods from torrential rains wash away

thousands of hectares of farmland. Uncontrolled logging and tree felling accentuated by lack of

re-stocking are the order of the day in many parts of the southern states of Nigeria. This carries
http://www.hdr.undp.org/http://www.milleniumindicators.un.org/http://www.worldbank.org/http://www.worldbank.org/http://www.milleniumindicators.un.org/http://www.hdr.undp.org/


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with it loss of precious biological diversity. Also an estimated 484 plant species in 112 families

are threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and deforestation. Many of our

cities are concrete jungles where plants are no longer used for home landscaping. The new

Federal Capital Territory at Abuja is a pathetic example of this development where the rich and

natural vegetation is being systematically depleted as a result of increasing human pressure.

The rampant bush burning is threatening the growth of trees and wildlife species and reducing

the ecological diversity of the area; gravel mining for construction is aggravating the problem

of erosion and surface run-off; while indiscriminate discharge of particulates from construction

sites is already leading to pollution and siltation. More recently, areas earmarked as green belts

and recreational areas are being systematically converted into building sites.

Nigeria's total primary energy consumption is steadily rising as the country's population is

multiplying. Nigeria's carbon dioxide emissions are still below the OPEC average. The use of

solid biomass, such as fuel wood, is prevalent and constitutes a major energy source. During

the 1990s, for instance, Nigeria lost nearly 500 square miles of forested land annually, in part

due to fuel wood consumption (EIA, 2003). The production and consumption of commercial

renewable energy in Nigeria remains quite limited.

With Nigeria's population continuing to increase, the pressure on the country's environment

appears likely to increase as well, and that makes it increasingly difficult to achieve the

Millennium Development Goal with regards to environmental sustainability

TARGET 10: HALVE BY 2015, THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WITHOUT

SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION.

Statistics to cover the MDG Indicators relevant to this target for Nigeria are presented below:

TABLE6: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL7- TARGET 10 STATISTICS FOR

NIGERIA

Indicators: 1990 2001

Proportion of Population with sustainable access to improveswater

53.0% 62.0%
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/nigenv.html#enerconsumphttp://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/nigenv.html#renewhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/nigenv.html#renewhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/nigenv.html#renewhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/nigenv.html#renewhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/nigenv.html#enerconsump


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Proportion of Population with access to improved sanitation 53.0% 54.0%

Sources: i. UNDP Human Development Report 2003 www.hdr.undp.orgii. United Nations Statistics Division (2003) UNSD Millennium indicator Database

www.milleniumindicators.un.orgiv. World Bank (2004) World Development Indicators Database, August 2004

www.worldbank.orgLack of clean water and basic sanitation are the main reasons for the diseases that are common

in Nigeria. An improved water source is any form of water collection or piping used to make

water regularly available. It is not the same as safe water, but there is no practical measure of

whether water supplies are safe. Connecting all households to a reliable source of water that is

reasonably protected from contamination would be an important step toward improving health

and reducing the time spent in collecting water.

RECOMMENDATIONS:ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIAS URBAN

DEVELOPMENT

Sustainability, Urban Development and the Achievement of the Millennium Development

Goals can be achieved by a pragmatic and efficient campaign aimed at tackling environmental

degradation.

Environmental degradation and poverty are inextricably intertwined. Bartone(1991) said that

economic disadvantages usually as a result of unemployment/ underemployment are the root

causes of urban poverty and environmental degradation. Applying the following strategies will

go a long way towards mitigating the effects of urban poverty and environmental degradation.

Land Regulation and Integration

1. Ensure appropriate implementation and monitoring of master plans for major townswhere they exist and the preparation and implementation of new ones where they are

non-existent or out of date. (Goal 7 Target 9)

2. Develop and implement guidelines and put in place appropriate institutionalarrangement for effective land resources management. (Goal 7 Target 11)

3. Promote easy access to land, especially for low-income families. (Goal 7 Target 11)
http://www.hdr.undp.org/http://www.milleniumindicators.un.org/http://www.worldbank.org/http://www.worldbank.org/http://www.milleniumindicators.un.org/http://www.hdr.undp.org/


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4. Renewal of all existing slum areas and prevent conditions that may lead to thedevelopment of new ones. (Goal 7 Target 11)

5. Promote the development of parks and gardens and ensure retention of adequate naturalgreen areas within human settlements to maintain ecological balance and amenity.

(Goal 7 Target 9)

Participatory Urban Management

1. Replicate the Sustainable Cities Programmes (SCP) in major urban centers in Nigeria.(Goal 2 Targets 9 and 11)

2. Adopt an integrated approach to the provision of water, electricity, sanitation, drainageand solid waste management.(Goal 2 Target 10)

3. Encourage private sector and community participation in urban renewal activities,housing and infra-structural provision.(Goal 2 Targets 10 and 11)

Support for the Urban Informal Sector

Improve the informal economy through the development of cottage and agro-allied industries

to create job opportunities (Goal 1 Target 1 and 2)

Rural development

1. Provide not less than 75% of rural communities with social amenities to stimulateand sustain self-reliant development to curb rural-urban migration. (Goal 7 target

9).


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CONCLUSION

Environmental degradation is both a cause and consequence of poverty. It is the poorest farmer

and herdsman, the assetless households and settlers of shantytowns and industrial margin areas

who are the most exposed to hunger, famine and starvation. (Olanrewaju, 2003).

The Millennium Development Goals are interdependent. Achieving one will help achieve the

others (Jolly, 2003). Therefore, addressing the most pressing challenges of the urban poor will

result in the reduction of environmental degradation and the achievement of sustainable

urbanization.

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