AN INHERITED ECOLOGICAL CRISIS: A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NGAS LAND OF PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

Studies reveal that the world is currently battling with the problem of environmental crisis. This crisis had persisted despite all efforts by global leaders to mitigate and offer solutions to the problem. The crisis on the African soil seems to have been alien before the arrival of colonial masters. There are a number of studies that suggest that the colonial masters have contributed a lot to the present environmental crisis being experienced in Africa. Using Ngas land as a case study, this study is aimed at analysing the African environment before and after the arrival of the colonial masters to African soil. Literature on colonialism and environmental crises in Africa by different scholars and also a few interviews were conducted to ascertain this claim. The studies revealed that even though Africa has some portion of blame for the crisis on the African soil, much of the blame goes to the colonial masters and their colonial activities on the African soil. The paper therefore suggests and recommends that African traditional ecological knowledge be widely engaged, as it has the capacity of sustaining the environment and is also a potential solution to the crisis.