Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Policy Gap and Action Dilemma

Abstract

Central to sustainable development, is efficient and effective natural resource management which encapsulates economic, social and environmental components and requires societies to pursue growth paths that generate optimal flow of income built on the twin principles of justice and equity. In Nigeria, sustainable development requires an integrated and inter-disciplinary policy planning and management which transcend the parochial legal, political, environmental, economic and ethical boundaries. This policy approach has become a desideratum, given the growing global concern that human activities increasingly threaten the health of natural systems that is at the heart of sustainable development. This study  which utilized valuable secondary sources of data examines the sustainable development question in Nigeria and contends that policy gaps and disconnect and the ensuing action dilemma have the potency of constraining the actualization of sustainable development efforts with the possibility of environmental crisis. The study therefore recommended among others an inter-disciplinary policy approach, action programme and governmental/private sector collaboration.

Keywords: Sustainable Development, Policy Gap and Action Dilemma.