Environment-Conflict Nexus: Proffering Environmental Health Education for Sustainable Peaceful Co-existence in Nigerian Communities

Abstract

Occurrences of conflict between farmers and multi-national oil companies in the  Niger Delta as well as that of farmers and herders due to scarcity of natural resources have become source of worries. This is because most often the conflict culminated into violent attack leading to the killing of farmers, herders and animals as well as destruction of crops and farm produce which is capable of jeopardizing food security of the nation. Hostility, insecurity, tension, mistrust and suspicion which characterize most communities continue to threaten peaceful co-existence. This paper examined environment induced conflicts in Nigeria; environmental factors causing conflict, environmental health education and sustainable peaceful co-existence. It was concluded that sustained peaceful co-existence can be achieved using the instrument of environmental health education. Therefore, resources both human and materials should be made available to implement environmental health education programme