A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies

Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate current government policies in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. This paper discusses the menace of desertification, the extent and the impact of drought in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – The research re...

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Main Authors: Medugu, Idris Nasiru, Majid, Mohammed Rafee, Choji, I. D.
Format: Article
Published: Emerald Group Publishing Limited 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/9920/
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author Medugu, Idris Nasiru
Majid, Mohammed Rafee
Choji, I. D.
author_facet Medugu, Idris Nasiru
Majid, Mohammed Rafee
Choji, I. D.
author_sort Medugu, Idris Nasiru
building UTeM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate current government policies in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. This paper discusses the menace of desertification, the extent and the impact of drought in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – The research reported in this paper was undertaken through review of existing literature, personal observations and interview with some of the residents in the affected areas as well as government officials in charge of programs in combating desertification. Findings – The paper observes that the failure of current government policies include among others the top-down approach, inconsistencies of government policies, neglect of indigenous knowledge, use of inappropriate technology, sectoral approach, inadequate funding, and inadequate awareness. Having identified the causes of the problem, this paper proposes that the national policy for drought and desertification should ensure sustainable development based on proper management of human-environment interactions in the affected areas. Practical implications – The evaluation method performed in this paper allows us to analyze the factors responsible for the failure of government policies in combating desertification in Nigeria. This paper suggests that a number of complementary policies, strategies and management approaches be put in place and such must take cognizance of the existing institutional settings and professional groupings as well as the complex historical, social, cultural, and legal considerations. Originality/value – The paper provides a rational, holistic, practicable and comprehensive approach for finding solutions to the problems of drought and desertification in Nigeria.
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spelling utm-99202010-06-22T04:08:30Z http://eprints.utm.my/9920/ A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies Medugu, Idris Nasiru Majid, Mohammed Rafee Choji, I. D. GE Environmental Sciences Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate current government policies in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. This paper discusses the menace of desertification, the extent and the impact of drought in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – The research reported in this paper was undertaken through review of existing literature, personal observations and interview with some of the residents in the affected areas as well as government officials in charge of programs in combating desertification. Findings – The paper observes that the failure of current government policies include among others the top-down approach, inconsistencies of government policies, neglect of indigenous knowledge, use of inappropriate technology, sectoral approach, inadequate funding, and inadequate awareness. Having identified the causes of the problem, this paper proposes that the national policy for drought and desertification should ensure sustainable development based on proper management of human-environment interactions in the affected areas. Practical implications – The evaluation method performed in this paper allows us to analyze the factors responsible for the failure of government policies in combating desertification in Nigeria. This paper suggests that a number of complementary policies, strategies and management approaches be put in place and such must take cognizance of the existing institutional settings and professional groupings as well as the complex historical, social, cultural, and legal considerations. Originality/value – The paper provides a rational, holistic, practicable and comprehensive approach for finding solutions to the problems of drought and desertification in Nigeria. Emerald Group Publishing Limited 2008 Article PeerReviewed Medugu, Idris Nasiru and Majid, Mohammed Rafee and Choji, I. D. (2008) A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies. Management of environmental quality, 19 (6). pp. 690-704. ISSN 1477-7835 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777830810904911 doi:10.1108/14777830810904911
spellingShingle GE Environmental Sciences
Medugu, Idris Nasiru
Majid, Mohammed Rafee
Choji, I. D.
A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies
title A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies
title_full A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies
title_fullStr A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies
title_full_unstemmed A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies
title_short A comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in Nigeria: A brief evaluation of government policies
title_sort comprehensive approach to drought and desertification in nigeria: a brief evaluation of government policies
topic GE Environmental Sciences
url http://eprints.utm.my/9920/
http://eprints.utm.my/9920/
http://eprints.utm.my/9920/