THE HIDDEN COST OF NIGERIA'S INEFFECTIVE POLICIES: AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT ON THE COUNTRY'S ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

Nigeria has an abundant natural environment for diverse ecosystems which support a variety of plant and animal species. Nevertheless, deforestation, oil exploration, and other human activities have resulted in the loss of natural habitats. This paper analyzes the hidden costs of Nigeria's ineffective policies and their impact on the country's ecological footprint. The research discloses that ineffective policies in Nigeria have led to unmanageable practices such as deforestation, oil exploration, and pollution of water bodies, bringing about a substantial impact on the environment, biodiversity loss, and global climate change. The study also emphasizes the economic and social costs of these practices, including reduced agricultural productivity, loss of revenue from tourism, and health issues resulting from exposure to toxins. The paper concludes that Nigeria's policymakers must improve and realize effective policies to solve the environmental challenges facing the country and support sustainable practices to minimize the ecological footprint.