THE ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTANTS FROM LUCKY FACTORY IN IKORODU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE

ABSTRACT

The research assessed the effects of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state, Nigeria. The survey research was used in this study to sample the opinion of respondents. This method involved random selection of respondent who were administered with questionnaires. The target population of the study comprised selected residents from Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state. A total of 300 respondents were recruited as sample size for the present study. The descriptive and analytical approach was adopted using Chi-square to test and analyze the hypotheses earlier stated. Relevant conceptual, theoretical and empirical literature was reviewed.Findings revealed that there is a significant effect of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory on the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria. The finding of the study also reveals that the anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory affects the agricultural activities of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria. Findings also revealed that there is a significant relationship between anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory and the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria. The finding of the study also reveals that the anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory affect the  drinking water sources in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria.  It was therefore concluded that there is a significant effect of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory on the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria. It was recommended that enlightening the management of Lucky factory of Ikorodu on proper anthropogenic practices as well as risk involved in wrong practices should be encourage by different stakeholders in Nigeria.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

          The term "human impact on the environment," also known as "anthropogenic impact on the environment," refers to alterations to biophysical environments, ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources that are caused either directly or indirectly by people, such as global warming (Cook, 2016), environmental degradation, and resource depletion (Sahney, 2010). The negative repercussions of altering the environment to meet societal wants are substantial, and they get worse as long as there is a problem with human overpopulation (Stockton, 2015). Human reproduction, excessive consumption, overexploitation, pollution, and deforestation are only a few examples of human activities that harm the ecosystem (directly or indirectly) on a global scale.Overpopulation is the root cause of some issues, such as global warming and biodiversity loss, which endanger the survival of the human race(Perkins, 2017).

          Anthropogenic contamination, as opposed to pollution caused by natural processes like respiration and decay, is a type of pollution that is produced specifically by human activity like burning fossil fuels. Potentially hazardous trace element (PHTE) sources are mostly caused by high-temperature combustion processes that cause trace elements to volatilize or release as a very fine substance that is compressed under pressure and sprayed as a fine spray using a propellant gas (Sahney, 2010).These are blatant examples of anthropogenic contaminants that harm an environment. According to the evidence, one of the main causes of the majority of airborne diseases that affect plants and animals is the release of these pollutants into the atmosphere. Recent climate change developments have demonstrated the urgency of tackling the core causes of the problem because the entire planet is in danger. The weather, seasons, and periods of the planet are steadily shifting (Hammer et al., 2013).

          Land degradation is a result of both human activity and natural processes across the majority of the world. Ademiluyi et al. (2008) claim that due to conflicting land uses, namely agriculture and human settlements, Africa has among the highest rates of deforestation in the world.In this region, where biomass is the primary energy source for domestic applications, the increased demand for fuel wood and charcoal is also a significant factor in deforestation and land degradation (Matano et al., 2015). High rates of population increase and migration brought on by a lack of available land resources are significant contributors to the deterioration of agricultural land (Diagana, 2003). Due to poor pasture management techniques, soil erosion is a frequent occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa's heavily grazed regions, according to Maitima et al. (2004). Soil erosion occurs here as a result of the spread of livestock farming techniques, a rise in livestock numbers, and in some cases, the integration of rain fed agriculture in low potential locations. In areas of subsistence farming, particularly as a result of the removal of crop leftovers from farmlands either by burning or for domestic energy, land degradation via depletion of soil nutrients is common.

          These kinds of operations increase soil acidity levels, which may lead to soil erosion and lower agricultural yields (FAO, 2001). The management and use of natural resources is frequently seen as Nigeria's most serious environmental issue.However, residential and industrial pollution, as well as associated public health issues, are also becoming a serious threat. The process of industrial expansion and social transformation in the nation has led to a number of serious economic disadvantages, including water and air pollution, home and industrial waste, and other related issues (Kamau, 2010). People's livelihoods, vulnerability, and food security are all impacted by anthropogenic practices in both direct and indirect ways (McDonagh et al., 2006). According to Bationo et al. (2006), the most significant danger to food production, food security, and the preservation of natural resources in Africa is land degradation.They described how land degradation and poverty, as well as a lack of chances and resources to earn sufficient income, are all intertwined in a vicious cycle that traps the population of Africa.

          Net Primary Productivity (NPP) index fell in South Africa as a result of anthropogenic practices, and croplands were reduced by 41% (Bai and Dent 2007). 38% of South Africa's population, or 17 million people, rely on these deplorable places. They said that due to farming, logging, and other human activities causing changes in land use and land cover, roughly 6 million hectares of primary forest are lost each year (Lambin et al., 2003). In Nigeria, NPP grew in grassland and woodland between 1981 and 2017, but it barely changed in farmland and actually fell in 40% of it. This was in light of the fact that human population had doubled during that time and there had been an increase in the demand for food supplies(Bai and Dent, 2006).

          The majority of economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is centered on agriculture, with two thirds of African nations reliant on it for survival. According to Diagana (2003), the majority of farmers in this area are small holders with 0.5 to 2 ha of land and a daily income of less than US $1. Many of the farmers have large families, go without food for three to five months, and are undernourished. Therefore, the fate of the agricultural sector has a direct impact on African nations' social welfare, efforts to end poverty, and economic growth Wanjala & Kinyanjui 0039. Particularly in Nigeria, declining soil fertility is currently posing a severe danger to agricultural output, health, and food security (Kabubo-Mariara, 2010).

          In Nigeria, changes in land use have replaced natural vegetation with farms, grazing fields, urban centers, and human settlements (Abdullahi et al., 2010). According to Maitima et al. (2009), these changes are connected to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. For instance, in the early 2000s, over 30% of Nigeria's land was suffering from extremely severe to severe land degradation, and an estimated 12 million people—or about a third of the country's population—were directly dependent on that land (Bai and Dent, 2008). The iterative character of the causative agents is less taken into account while attempting to manage degradation issues. For instance, there is a widespread propensity to understate the effects of other socioeconomic and environmental factors while blaming land degradation on rising population pressure and unsustainable farming methods (Vezina et al., 2006).To understand land degradation due to water erosion, "the greatest need is for a full recognition of socio-economic drivers," according to Boardman (2006). Jones (1996) added that "as the interest of land degradation grows in the field of developmental studies, meanings are implicitly negotiated and Western Scientists begin to revise their worldviews on land degradation." According to Lestrelin and Giordano (2007), it is true that land degradation issues are somewhat socially built both locally and on a larger scale. Developmental activities in any form may therefore contribute to land degradation (Vezina et al., 2006).

          Given everything, the main query that frequently comes to mind is whether or not we should take a comprehensive strategy to solving the problem of land degradation. Instead of focusing solely on population pressure as an indicator of the use or non-use of soil and water conservation technologies, Mazzucato and Niemeijer (2000) argue that studies on land degradation are necessary to understand how agricultural systems react to various changes in the social, economic, and environmental context in which agriculture takes place.This is particularly essential since insights into the socio-economic network of the communities may affect efforts to intervene in ongoing land degradation of any form. When a civilization goes through a transition (Easterling & Apps, 2005), especially in terms of social and economic conditions, anthropogenic issues begin to surface. It is based on this background that the present study seeks to assess the effects of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state, Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

          Action must be taken seriously to improve the overall well-being of the population in Lagos State's Ikorodu local government area in order to achieve food sustainability. However, a major problem in the area continues to be widespread anthropogenic practices, which are typified by soil erosion and deteriorating soil fertility, which in turn causes lowering productivity.Soil erosion and land degradation have grown to be significant environmental issues over the past three decades and pose a serious danger to food security and the sustainability of agricultural output (Kabubo-Mariara et al., 2010). There are several factories in the Ikorodu local government area that have an impact on both the citizens' quality of life and the farmers' ability to cultivate their land. Population pressure, bad government policies, and disruption of indigenous customary land use management techniques have all hastened the loss of biodiversity brought on by factory pollution (Wafuke, 2012). These human activities have resulted in intensive landuse, modification, and alteration of the status of the land use and land cover change over time.

          Anthropogenic practices specifically from Luck factory constitute a serious problem in Ikorodu local government area. The causes, processes, prediction and control have aroused the interest of many researchers (Ireland et al., 2016). Natural events such as erosion can be hazardous to man. The disasters that natural hazards can cause are largely the result of actions by man that increase vulnerability, or lack of action to anticipate and mitigate the potential damage of these events. Anthropogenic practices have been mentioned as one major constraint to improved agricultural activities and household welfare in Nigeria (Adewuyi, 2012). In fact, recent household budget survey studies show that the major cause of low incomes in Nigeria rural areas has been stagnating agricultural production (Deininger and Okidi, 2001). As a result, poverty in Nigeria is still pervasive and highest among those households whose main source of living is crop agriculture. For instance, povertyamong households headed by crop farmers increased from 39 to 50 percent between 1999 and 2002 while poverty dropped from 47 to 38 percent for those households the main occupation of which is non-crop agriculture (livestock and fishing) for the same period of time (Appleton and Sewanyana, 2013). Farming is a major economic activity of the people of Bwari and its being practiced all year round both at subsistence and commercial scale. Increase in population in the area has led to high demand of land for agriculture production and hence intensive cultivation which leads to so much pressure on the land due to over cultivation. This might have resulted in decline in soil fertility. Few studies (Wafuke, 2012; Ireland et al., 2016; Adewuyi, 2012 and Deininger and Okidi, 2001) available in the area of interest, none of this study dealt with the effect of anthropogenic pollutants of Lucky factory specifically on the well being of residents in Ikorodu local government area, Lagos State. Therefore, this study aim to fill the dearth in literature by assessing the effects of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state, Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the Study  

The main objective of this study is to assessed the effects of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state. Other objectives of the study include;

1. To determine the effects of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state.
2. To ascertain the existence of Lucky Factory has affected the residents of Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state
3. To examine the significant relationship between anthropogenic pollutants and the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu local government  in Lagos State
4. To identify ways of preventing the problems caused by the Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state,Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

          The following questions guide the direction of this study;

1. What is the effects of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state?

2. To what extent does the the existence of Lucky Factory has affected the residents of Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state?

3. Is there significant relationship between anthropogenic pollutants and the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu local government  in Lagos State?

4. What are the ways of preventing the problems caused by the Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state,Nigeria?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

          The following were hypothesized;

Hypothesis One

H0: There is no a significant effect of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory on the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria

H1: There is a a significant effect of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory on the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria

Hypothesis Two

H0: There is no significant relationship between anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory and the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria

H1: There is a significant relationship between anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory and the wellbeing of residents in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Nigeria

1.6 Significance of the Study

          This study will have significant implication to the Ikorodu local government area, Lagos State government, students and the general pulic as a whole.

          First, the findings of this study will examine various forms of anthropogenic practices in parts of Ikorodu local government area.

The findings of this study will also identify how the Lucky factory affect the  wellbeing and the agricultural practices of residents in Ikorodu local government area

The findings of this study will enable the Lagos State government to know the steps as well as strategies to take to prevention or reduce the negative of Lucky factor and all other factories in Lagos State.

 The findings of this research will go a long way to unravel the nature of anthropogenic practices effects on agricultural activities in the study area which will address the problem of human activities so as to improve the economic activities of the people.

The findings of this study will be beneficial to students and researchers who are interested in similar topic in another areas as it will act as a source of reference to them.

1.7 Scope of the Study

          This study is limited effects of anthropogenic pollutants from Lucky Factory in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state, Nigeria. Participants for this study will be limited to residents from Ikorodu local government area.