The Need for Infrastructural and Environmental Sustainability in Southern Nigeria: An Appraisal Abstract
Conference: The 23rd Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA) (2026)
Presenter(s): Nneka Umejiaku, Alokwu Cyprian Obiora
Presentation Date: May 14, 2026 @ 18:37 PM
Abstract
Infrastructure refers to the systems of development that are critical for economic growth. Environmental sustainability entails protecting the environment for future generations. The work focuses on the need to preserve the environment while developing the polity. The work examined the nexus between infrastructural development and environmental sustainability. It also x-rayed a plethora of laws on environmental protection. It analyzed the link between environmental preservation and achieving sustainable development goals by 2030. The method used is doctrinal and comparative in scope. The work found that the establishment of infrastructure without pursuing environmental sustainability threatens ecosystems, worsens climate risks, and undermines a healthy environment. Further, the work found that Nigeria, particularly Ndi Igbo, has not been able to balance infrastructural development with environmental sustainability, and this has made the environment vulnerable to diverse environmental hazards, such as land degradation and pollution. The work found a nexus between environmental sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Furthermore, environmental sustainability is not merely an environmental concern but a legal, economic, and ethical imperative aimed at securing human well-being, environmental integrity, and intergenerational equity, and is therefore a human rights issue. Accordingly, the study recommends a review of the extant legal framework. Strengthening the relevant institutional and legal framework. Collaboration with civil society, non-governmental organizations, and the creation of awareness.
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