EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY LAW CLINIC IN BRIEF

EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY LAW CLINIC IN BRIEF

Located at the ultra-modern Faculty of Law complex, CAS Campus Abakaliki  

Introduction           

n      The Faculty of Law Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki was established at the beginning of the 1999 session. It was established to meet the yearnings of the teaming population of Ebonyi people, which had long suffered dearth of legal manpower and others who want to have access to legal education. Over the years, the Faculty has designed and redesigned its curriculum to be in consonance with current trends in legal education globally. The Faculty has three departments. The EBSU Law Clinic which is the students’ practical law firm is under Directorate of Clinical Legal Education of Ebonyi State University. The University established the Clinical Legal Education (CLE) programme to boost its system of law training in practical skills development which was hitherto nonexistent in Nigeria.

n      The introduction of CLE has made positive impact not just to the students but also to the university and its immediate communities. The Director of the Clinic Dr. Amari Omaka, is a well experienced legal practitioner- at the bar, bench and academia. His experiences as a national and international scholar in no small measure contributed to the fast growth of the law clinic making it rank among the best five in Nigeria. Students trained under the clinic have won laurels at national competitions and also excelled at the Nigerian Law School.

Genesis of EBSU Law Clinic 

n      The EBSU Law Clinic commenced preliminary operation in October 2004. It however, resumed clinical law training with the ideals of Clinical Legal Education on June 25, 2006 when the clinic received Senate approval. Clinical Legal Education (CLE) as a concept and teaching methodology is directed towards acquisition of functional learning. Simply put therefore, the Law Clinic is to law students what the University Teaching Hospital is to medical students. The curriculum as recently approved by NULAI in October 2006 is a 4-semesters-based, designed for the 4th and 5th year LL.B programme.

n      It has learning objectives for each subject and there is emphasis on the use of interactive teaching methods and clinical approaches like simulations, role plays, video clips, exercises, brainstorming, tutorials, assignments, moots/mock trial, skills competitions, clinics, site visits, internships/ attachments, street law programmes, teach back, increased use of IT and teaching aids etc. The programme is thus aimed at equipping the students with problem solving skills, legal analysis and reasoning skills, communication skills, interview and counselling skills, trial preparation and trial advocacy skills.

n      The clinic helps to produce law graduates with sound knowledge of law and related disciplines and who possesses the necessary skills to tackle the problems of the society through the law. EBSU Law Clinic meets the above targets through a well-structured curriculum which it is presently operating.

Office Space / facilities

n      Because CLE involves the setting up of a Law Clinic; consequently, the programme is run with a functional law clinic. The law clinic uses a full wing of the top floor of the Faculty of Law Complex as the Law Clinic. The clinic is of international standard. The clinic is open to the public and manned by student clinicians supervised by lecturers. The facilities in the clinic include:

n      Clinic reception,

n      Judge’s chambers,

n      A state of the art moot court

n      Clinic conference room

n      A large classroom to be partitioned into clinicians offices,

n      File cabinet 

n      Study/mini library space etc.

n      It is fully air-conditioned and sufficiently furnished with modern day conveniences, office machines and gadgets.  CLE and the EBSU Law Clinic is the best learning opportunity for teaching professional responsibility to the students who are therefore compelled to learn by dealing with real life cases.

Law clinicians insert in the impressive EBSU Law Faculty complex housing the Law Clinic, gardened and horticultured by EBSU Law Clinic Envirommetal Protection Initiative.

Vision

n      To provide a world-class legal training for students of EBSU law faculty. The practical programmes of the clinic aims at creating a new breed of lawyers who will be capable of thinking outside the constraints of national boundaries and who can recognise and apply contemporary jurisprudence.

Mission

n      To develop skills in our law students through interactive teaching methodology that will equip them to grapple with modern day law practice in all jurisdictions, and develop pro bono culture in them before graduation.

Feats:

Ø      Played Key Role in accreditation of Law Faculty: The impressive performance, moot court and massive infrastructure in EBSU Law Clinic helped in achieving 95% NUC accreditation rating in 1997. This feat gave EBSU Law Faculty full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the law faculty ranked the 2^nd best law faculty behind Lagos State University.

Ø      The biggest Law Clinic in Nigeria: As at date, EBSU Law Clinic remains the biggest Law Clinic in Nigeria, and the design of the moot court and clinicians’ offices are being used as a model and copied by many universities. In addition, the Law Clinic is the 1^st (first) law clinic to be upgraded to a Directorate in Nigeria, in line with international best practices and standards.

Ø      Overall 2^nd position in National Client Counselling Competition 2006: In 2006 EBSU Law Clinic trained law students who beat several other law faculties in Nigeria Universities in the 1^st Nigerian National Client Counselling and Skills Completion at the University of Maiduguri, and emerged overall 2^nd position, queuing behind the host  university.

Ø      Represented Nigeria in Britain: In April 2006 after qualifying as one of the two national representatives EBSU Law Clinic took part in the finals in Britain. The contingent qualified as runners up and was one of the two teams that represented Nigeria in the Louise M. Brown International Client Counselling Competition that took place in Cardiff Law School, Cardiff Wales United Kingdom in April 8-16 2006

Ø      Overall 3^rd position in NCCC: Again, during the 3^rd in National Client Counselling Completion held at the Nigerian Law School Abuja in 2007EBSU Law Clinic trained students of EBSU Law Faculty who made an impressive 3^rd position. Yet, again, in the 5^th NCCC held at the Nigerian Law School Enugu campus in 2009, EBSU Law Clinic trained law students who emerged overall 3^rd position in the competition involving all Law Faculties and Law Schools in Nigeria. In the course of the competition we beat institutions like University of Nigeria Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Bayero University Kano, University of Ibadan, Ambrose Ali University and others at the group, quarter and semi finals respectively. We defeated the defending champions, Obefemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife at the semi finals, and participated in the finals. We however queued behind the Abia State University and Nigerian Law School who took 1^st and 2^nd positions respectively.

Ø      EBSU Clinical Law Student takes World 2^nd Position:  At the just concluded International Journal of Clinical Legal Education Conference (IJCLE) held at Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne United Kingdom, a final year law student and a group leader in EBSU Law Clinic, Miss Iphie Ifenyinwa Gloria emerged overall 2^nd position worldwide. Countless entries were received all over the world, including five entries from Nigeria, two of which came from EBSU. After a through screening by delegates across the globe who voted, the poster of Iphie’s poster was rated overall 2^nd position. In addition, the poster from the leader of the EBSU Law Clinic, Mr Ivoke Hezekiah was among the top seven world-over. The 1st position went to a post designed by a group of law-clinicians from a university in Spain.  The participants commended EBSU law clinic and the quality of training they are receiving. Many openly said that much has been known of EBSU through her clinical programme despite her very short history among universities in the world.

Ø      Similarly, the Law Clinic produced 1^st class in Nigerian Law School: in 2008, the leader of EBSU Law Clinic made a rare and impressive  1^st class degree at the Nigerian Law School

Ø      EBSU Law Clinic has contributed in no small measure in putting the University and Nigerian University system in the world map, through her CLE Programme. Similarly, the Clinic has helped in developing research and ICT skills among law students. Recent Clinic mapping national and International by NULAI and OSJI respectively in 2010, and one of the best five Law Clinics in Nigeria.

Research Projects:

Ø      Environmental tree planting and gardening in EBSU law faculty 2006/2007:

In 2006/2007 academic session, the EBSU Law Clinic Environmental Protection Initiative (EBSUEPI) conducted a quasi/test study on implications of direct sunlight and other ecological problems on the environment. At the end, the clinic led by Director, Dr Amari Omaka carried out a tree planting and horticultural activity in CAS Campus of Ebonyi State University, particularly, around the law faculty complex. The trees and flowers planted included whispering pine, eucalyptus, palm trees, economic trees, Melina, izora, yellow-bush etc. The clinic established the law faculty garden in front of the massive new law faulty complex.

Ø      Environmental clinic on quarry 2007/2008

In view of the menace posed mining and quarrying of industrial stones in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, in the 200/2008 academic session, the law clinic carried out a scientific research on the environmental and health implications of quarry activities within Abakaliki Capital city. At the end of the day, the report of findings was sent to Ebonyi State Government and other development partners. The report greatly influenced the relocation of quarry / stone blasting activities fro Abakaliki capital metropolis to Okposi Umuoghara in Ezza North Local Government Area.

Bezare!!!

Environmental and health bizarre of Ebonyi State capital Abakaliki before EBSU Law Clinic study, findings & recommendations that led to the final relocation of quarry activities to Okposi Umuoghara

Ø      Prison project 2009/2010:

Following the need to be part of the Federal Government of Nigeria and Development partners, multifaceted approach to prison services and consequent decongestion, the EBSU Law Clinic decided to make prison projects one of her cardinal projects for 2008/2009. This project is not only geared at assisting the inmates of the two federal prisons in the state  (Afikpo and Abakaliki prisons) to access legal service, but also to avail the pivotal law students an opportunity to work and learn with real live clients, viz the awaiting trials and those wrongly detained. The clinic carried a detailed scientific research on the legal, social, educational, health, vocational and other needs in the prisons. The sex, age, periodic and other classification / embodiments of prison inmates. This is with a view to contributing her quota to prison decongestion in Nigeria. The report/findings have been forwarded to national and international development partners and sponsors of the project, Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) and Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI). Similarly, the Director of the Clinic, Dr Amari Omaka presented the study and findings at an international forum in Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne United Kingdom, and Stanford University California United States.

Community Service:

EBSU Public Interest, Access to Justice and Street Law Programmes

n      The NUC current minimum academic standards in law and the draft benchmarks and minimum academic standards in law published in August 2004 and Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) guidelines 2006 make provisions for simulative and practical legal training.

n      Thus, the essence of the non-examinable practical training requires that “A community based course: moot court, prison services; community legal assistance to the poor, minority and the under-privileged should be introduced”. This is mainly clinic-based, and constitutes the major bulk of the service aspect of the clinic. The Clinic operates as a service centre to handle Legal matters for indigent people around the University environment and entire Abakaliki metropolis.

n      Matters like, Family Law and Domestic Violence, Human Right, HIV/AIDS Right, Environmental Right, Tenancy matters; etc are handled in the Clinic, particularly for the indigent. Publicity for the clinic is through, the electronic and print media. Others include addressing village / town association, religious organizations like churches. The communities service outreach programmes are done through: 

Ø      Street law programmes to schools, hospitals, markets, parks etc

Ø      Outreach programmes on human rights, especially to vulnerable groups like women and children.

Ø      Pro bono and free legal aid services to the poor and illiterate forgotten lot.

n      The goals of the law clinic’s community service programmes include inter alia:-         

n      1. To train students on practical lawyering

n      2. Practical client counselling skills

n      3. Moot court practice.         

n      4. To render free legal services to the indigent people around the university and the state.

n      To achieve citizenship education and rights sensitisation.

n      To train the students to be responsive to the needs of their immediate environment.

n      To carryout the different projects of the clinic, through her specialised units like EBSU HIV/AIDS Initiative (EBSUAI). EBSU Environmental Protection Initiative (EBSUEPI), EBSU Family Law Centre (EBSUFLC) etc.

International Conferences:

To update in contemporary legal research and skills development the directorate has participated in conferences and training workshops in Durban, Johannesburg, (South Africa), Cardiff Wales, London, Newcastle (United Kingdom), Manila (Philippines), Toronto (Canada), Tel Aviv (Israel), Ghana and international conferences in different parts of Nigeria.

Dr. Amari Omaka, presenting a paper at 8^th IJCLE Northumbria University UK, July 7, 2010

Dr. Amari Omaka, presenting a paper at 4^th ILEC/CLE conference Stanford Law School University of Stanford California July 16, 2010

Dr. Amari Omaka with delegates in an International CLE conference in the United States

Dr Amari Omaka at in GAJE-CLE Justice Education conference in Manila Philippines 2008

Dr Amari Omaka at in GAJE-CLE Justice Education conference in Manila Philippines 2008

Linkages:

The Clinic has linkages with the following international organisations;

Ø      Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE) with headquarters in the United States,

Ø      International Clinical Legal Education Organisation (IJCLE)

Ø      Bridges Across Borders of South East Asia (BABSEA) Thailand, founded Prof Bruce Lasky

Ø      Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), Budapest and New York

Ø      Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI-Nigeria)

Ø      International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abakaliki branch

Ø      Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LAC)

Ø      Macarthur Foundation . Below are pictures with some of the above partners:

Dr Amari Omaka, Director Clinical Legal Education EBSU with Prof Peter Joy  - world-renowned professor of Clinical Law of Washington University St Louis Missouri USA and resource fellow of  IJCLE

Dr. Amari Omaka, Director Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria with erudite Professor Deborah Rhodes – an E. W. McFarland Professor of Law & Dean Stanford Law School (centre). Extreme left is Carolyn Lamm President-General of America Bar Association (ABA) and FIDA icon

                                                                                   

Dr. Amari Omaka poses with GAJE members in England during a Law Clinic conference. From left standing are Professors Les Macrimmom (Australia),  Frank Block (USA), David Macquoid-Mason(South Africa), Catherine Klein (Washington, USA), Sarah Chandler(London), Anon (United Kingdom), Peter Joy (Missouri USA),  Maureen Cooke (Newcastle UK). Squatting: Anon (UK), Bruce Lasky (USA/Thailand), Dr Omaka (EBSU, Nig), Kevin Kerrigan (Northumbria UK), Philip Plowden (Dean, Northumbria) and Samaranda (UI, Nig)

Dr. Amari Omaka with President of BABSEA, Thailand, Prof Bruce Lasky, BABSEA South East Asia Director Wendy Morrish and Associate Prof  Madya Norbani Mohamed Nazeri (University of Malaysia clinical director). EBSU Law Clinic partners with BABSEA in students internship programme..

Grants:

The clinic has received funding over the years from Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), Budapest and New York, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI-Nigeria) Abuja, Macarthur Foundation and individual supports. The University has also been providing institutional support in the area of training and logistics.

Dr. Amari Omaka with Marguerite Angelari (USA) the project officer of EBSU Law Clinic’s main sponsor Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) in Budapest, Hungary.

A Few of the Cases handled by the clinic:

In her free legal aid services to the people (the indigent) in defense of their human rights, the law clinic have handled many pro bono cases and settled some cases within the clinic, some of them include:

n       EBSU/LC/01/2006COP v. Emeka Nweke 

n      Here, Emeka Nweke (as reported by his mother Mrs. Patience Nweke) an only child of his mother) was returning to Abakaliki from Awka where he attends school. The Ebonyi State Government’s ban on operating motor bikes (Okada) from 7.00pm made him decide to walk home from the bus step. He was picked by the police around 9.30pm and charged for “wandering”. He had been detained for 7 days before his mother came to the EBSU Law Clinic. The police placed a “bail” of 10,000 naira on his head (the type you must pay the police before they release an accused). The poor mother was able to raise 5,000 naira which the police rejected. When the matter came to the clinic 3 clinicians were assigned to handle the matter. After 2 days, we were able to get him out of detention free of charge. The mother was so happy that she openly wept and blessed us. It was an experience that would never be forgotten in a hurry.

n      ELC/0002/2007: Ekuma Chukwu Nnenna vs. Ginger International College, Abakaliki.

This involves refusal of the proprietor of the school to pay an employee three months salary on the ground that she has changed employment. We have written an invitation to the proprietor for possible settlement of the mater out of court. The case of the complainant has been settled by the clinic.

• ELC/003/2007: COP vs. Cpl Samuel Chikezie (on the complaint of Ugochukwu Ezekiel)

This involves unlawful harassment of the complainant, a final year law student by a police officer. The clinic handled the matter and ensured that the complained is released from custody. A lawyer has taken over the case to press charges against the police officer.

n      ELC/004/2007: Re: Complaint of Usulor Ikechikwu

This was a case involving neglect of the complainant by his elder brother over an allegation that involved breach of trust. The clinic mediated in the matter.

Moot and Mock Trials

  Intra campus mock trial competition holds regularly especially during students law weeks between the following chambers:

n      Niki Tobi Chambers

n      Prof Martins Okany Chambers

n      Justice Sylva Nwali Ngwuta (JCA) Chambers

n      Justice Chukwudifo Oputa (JCS retired) Chambers

What the Students Say:

n      These testimonies from law students who have been impacted upon by our clinical method of teaching. Below is a reproduction of some emails sent to the Director at amariomaka2@yahoo.com:

 Sir,

I want to congratulate you for your piratical method of teaching, wide knowledge in computer and ITC, which you impart into us in class. I especially commend the interactive classes you create, thus making the legal profession easier to appreciate rather than long and incomprehensible notes, which we are used to.  I charge you to keep it up. I also like to congratulate you for making my life better, in that you have delivered me from darkness to light. This is because I had never intended browsing   the internet let alone creating an email at this time or understanding how to move motions. I wish to show my appreciation and pray that God will continue to strengthen you.  -  Nwanganga Calistus (EBSU 2003 25154)

Sir,

 Thank you sir, for a great development …… The clinical method of teaching has been wonderful and it is the best thing that ever happened to us as law students. In the law school, we are ahead of others.  - Obiakalusi .N. Judith (Reg No. EBSU/2004/30676) 

 Sir,

It pleases me to congratulate your teaching skills and the course of your lecturing as well as teaching methodology. CLE teaching methodology which you introduced at the faculty of law is the best thing that happened to legal education in Nigeria. Keep it up sir. May God be with you. - Onu Uduma

About the Director

The director of EBSU Law Clinic, Dr. Amari Omaka is a lawyer and scholar of international repute. Dr Omaka is widely published and has to his credit many chapters in books and scholarly articles in his field, both nationally and internationally. He has varied experiences in all aspects of the legal profession -the bench and the bar- and has to his credit more than thirty-seven local and international publications. He has attended several international conferences and delivered academic papers in Africa, Europe, Asia and America. He has also published five books including The Nigerian Conservation Law and Legal Clinic (Precedent and Procedure). He has edited several publications, including national editor Nigerian Environmental Law Review, Practical Law Monitor etc. He has served the Faculty of Law and Ebonyi State University in different capacities. However, he wants to be remembered by the legacies of the law clinic which he established. Contact him with amariomaka@gmail.com, phone: +2348064774016

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ATTITUDE OF THE GRASSROOTS TO ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN EBONYI STATE: A CASE OF AFIKPO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ATTITUDE OF THE GRASSROOTS TO ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN EBONYI STATE: A CASE OF AFIKPO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

By

CHUKWU AMARI OMAKA

Abstract

The success of environmental protection depends on a large measure on the enforcement of environmental law. It has been observed that attitude plays a prominent role on how a group of people respond to an issue that affects them. The aim of this study therefore was to ascertain the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environmental laws in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. A sample of 1500 residents in three communities in Afikpo North Local Government Area completed the questionnaire designed for the study. Out of this number, 1495 (748 men, 747 female) representing about 99.7% return rate, duly completed and returned their copies of the questionnaire and these copies were used for analysis. Mean scores were used to describe the attitude of the participants to enforcement of environmental law. T-test statistic was used to verify the only hypothesis postulated for the study at p < 0.05. Results of the study showed that the participants had, overall, a positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law. However, male participants demonstrated better attitude to enforcement of environmental law than female participants. T-test showed that, overall, there was no significant difference in the attitude to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State between male and female participants. It was recommended, among others, that adequate and effective legislation should be put in place in order to guide the execution and probable prosecution of environmental law non-compliance.

Key words: Attitude, environmental law, grassroots, Ebonyi State.

Introduction

The success of environmental protection depends on a large measure on the administrative effective effectiveness of agencies in charge of strategy formulation and enforcement of laws. This is supported by various authorities (Caldwell, 2000; Edmunds, 2004; Letey, 1999); the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held at Stockholm (United Nations, 1972; World Health Organisation [WHO], 1999). Afikpo North LGA, our case study area, is one of the grass root local settings in Ebonyi state. It is situated in southern part of the state and predominantly farmers with pockets of civil servants- mostly local government personnel. Although there are some basic infrastructures in the area, it has limited social amenities, such as a central water supply system, good access roads and the like. It is about 66 km to Abakaliki, the capital city of Ebonyi State. Farness to the capital city might affect the people’s attitude to enforcement of environmental law negatively or positively since law enforcers hardly extend their tentacles to the rural communities that make up the LGA. What is there attitude to enforcement of environmental law is the gamut of this study.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to ascertain the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environment law in Ebonyi State of Nigeria, using Afikpo North Local Government Area as a case.

Hypothesis

One hypothesis was postulated for verification at p < 0.05, thus: gender will not make any significant difference in the attitude of grassroots to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State.

Research Questions

1. What is the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environment law in Ebonyi State (Afikpo North LGA as a case?)

2. What is the attitude of male and female grassroots to enforcement of environmental laws in Ebonyi State?

Conceptual framework

The environment consists of all the physical, chemical, and biological systems of the planet Earth. The interrelationship of man and the environment through social organisations forms the central link that the system or subsystem of environmental law attempts to guard.

Ogbuigwe (1995) conceived environmental law to imply an organised way of using all the laws in man’s legal system to minimise, prevent punish or remedy the consequences of actions, which damage or threaten the environment, public health and safety. To Omaka (2005), environmental law comprises an outline of rules for environmental safety and a survey of legal undertakings to deal with problems of the environment. These efforts, according to him, include legislations, case law and incidental environmental litigation to control abuse of the environment and for the protection and preservation of the essential resources for the enhancement of public health and quality of life. The complex interrelations and interdependencies of human and non-human elements of the environment themselves constitute a general system and sets of subsystems, thus environmental law may be viewed in this context as a subsystem, which attempts to regulate their interactions and overall impact.

Environmental law has assumed a role of crucial importance today because of growing number of programmes and projects that have been mounted in response to the concern for environmental quality. Strong pressures have been exerted on government and other institutions to respond to the urgent call to protect the environment. Unfortunately, the response to this challenge to forestall what many scientists and conservationists regard as an impending doom for the planet has been less than adequate. This deficiency itself may be seen in the administration of environmental programmes, which have been organised in different parts of the world today. The awareness of environmental deterioration and the pressures on government to deal with it more effectively have been generated by the evidence around us in form of polluted water and air, among other indicators (United Nations, 1972; WHO, 1999).

The environment is considered polluted when the physical, chemical, and biological properties of its different components (e.g., air, water, soil, food, and the occupational, residential and recreational environment) are qualitatively changed. This is the consequence of the intentional and unintentional discharge of waste materials, the deliberate use of chemicals, or the dissipation of energy in form of heat, noise, vibration, or radiation. Pollution, thus, occurs when environmental changes create or are likely to create nuisance or hazards to public health, safety, and welfare, or when they are harmful to domestic, industrial, agricultural, recreational and other legitimate uses of environmental components or livestock, wild animals, fish, aquatic life, and other biological species (WHO, 2004).

The uncontrolled discharge of domestic and municipal wastes affects water, soil, and food quality, and this remains the major problem of environmental pollution. The industrialised countries face mainly problems of environmental pollution caused by chemical and physical agents. In many developing countries, including Nigeria where Ebonyi State is situated, there are already limited areas where rapid and uncontrolled urbanisation and industrial development are creating pollution problems of more complex kind, despite the assertion by the economic development-minded  that economic development must be accelerated at all costs now and pollution problems attended to later (United Nations, 2000).

Despite disastrous experiences of the developed countries, for example, Japan, the United States and England, the unofficial policy of development at all costs appears to prevail in many developing countries, including Nigeria, and as a consequence, low priority is given to environmental protection programmes and laws. The ultimate goal of socioeconomic development in development countries is the raising of the quality of life of the people to a tolerable level. This is more than a matter of gross national product (GNP), annual income, or other economic measures, for by its very essence the quality of life implies that environmental quality must itself be tolerable and therefore acceptable. This remains an acute problem in developing countries, which would be magnified as urbanisation and industrialisation are intensified, unless the necessary attention is given to environmental management through enforcement of environmental laws.

As pointed out earlier, the success of environmental protection depends on a large measure on the administrative effective effectiveness of agencies in charge of strategy formulation and enforcement of laws. This has been brought by various authorities (Caldwell, 2000; Edmunds, 2004; Letey, 1999) and in the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held at Stockholm (United Nations, 1972; World Health Organisation [WHO], 1999).

However, enforcement of environmental law among a group of people could be dependent largely on their attitude. Novey, Kaye, and Brookhart (1997) have identified attitude as most important indicator of programme enforcement. Attitude, according to Anderson (2003), is a moderately intense emotion that prepares or predisposes individuals to respond consistently in a favourable or unfavourable manner when confronted with a particular object or thing. In the context of the present study, attitude was viewed as feeling, thinking, or emotion that predisposed people at grassroots at Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State to respond positively or negatively to enforcement of enforcement of environmental law.

Studies in both developed and developing countries have revealed somewhat inconsistent findings regarding the attitude of people to enforcement of environment laws (Lee, 2005; Moses, 2004). However, none of these studies was conducted in Ebonyi State in general and Afikpo North LGA in particular. The present study would close this gap in knowledge.

                                    Methodology

Participants and Setting

Between March 5 and April 12, 2010, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1500 (750 men, 750 women) residents in Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The participants were drawn randomly from five communities in the area under survey. These communities included: Amasiri, Unwana, Ozziza, Akpoha and Ibii. In each community, 300 (150 men, 150 women) were randomly selected using the systematic random sampling technique. Compiling two lists, one for men and the other for women, without any special consideration, facilitated this.

Instrument

            The researcher used a self-developed questionnaire, the Attitude to Enforcement Of Environment Law Questionnaire (AEELQ), which consisted of ten items arranged in two sections; A and B. Section A, contained three items personal data (gender, age and occupation) of participants. Section B, contained seven items meant to elicit information on the attitude of participants to enforcement of environmental law. The respondents were required to indicate on a 4-point scale, how they agree or disagree with the attitude statements namely: strongly agree (SA), agree (A), disagree (DA) and strongly disagree (SD).

            Five experts in environmental management and health education from two institutions of higher learning in south-east of Nigeria were used to establish the validity of the AEELQ. Data collected from twenty residents in Ikwo, a community not included in main study, were used for test of reliability. The data yielded a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.82. The reliability coefficient was higher than Ogbazi and Okpala’s (1994) criteria of 0.60 acceptable for good instruments.

Procedure

Permission was granted from the traditional ruler of each community participating in the study prior to data collection. A consent note with the explanation for the research purpose, method of response and assurance of anonymity was attached to each copy of the AEELQ. The participants were asked not write their names on any part of the questionnaire and were allowed about 30 minutes to complete the AEELQ. Participants who were not able to read or write were asked questions in their native dialect in line with the items in the questionnaire. The researcher thereafter assisted such participants to enter their responses to the items in the AEELQ without any element of bias. 

Data Analysis

The response columns of the AEELQ were allocated scores as follows: SA = 4, A = 3, DA = 2 and SD = 1.  The completed copies of the AEELQ were examined for completeness of responses and copies that had incomplete responses were discarded. Out of 1500 copies of the AEELQ administered; 1495 (748 men, 747 women) representing about 99.7% return rate, were used for analysis. In describing the attitude of participants to enforcement of environmental law, mean statistic was used. A criterion mean of 2.50 was chosen in order to classify the attitude of participants into positive attitude, or otherwise; to the variable under study. The criterion mean score for the study was obtained by adding all the scores assigned to the response options and dividing the sum by the number of the response options as follows:

                       

Thereafter, Olaitan’s (1983) criterion adapted from Likert’s scaling was applied to categorise the construct being studied for the purposes of description. Following from this, mean of 2.50 and above was interpreted as positive attitude, while mean below 2.50 was interpreted as negative attitude to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. On the other hand, in order to verify the postulated hypothesis, T-test statistic was adopted in establishing whether any significant difference existed in the attitude of male and female participants to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. An alpha level of .05 was set for the test of hypothesis. All data analyses were done with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 14.0 for Windows.

Results

Table 1. Means and Results of T-test of Attitude of Grassroots to Enforcement of                  Environmental Law in Ebonyi State (N = 1495)

Attitude Statements	Responses
	Overall		Male		Female		T-value
	M	SD	M	SD	M	SD
There should be environmental law put in place to protect the environment from abuse.	2.61	.52	2.63	.71	2.58	.34	1.724
Existence of environmental law does not affect me in any way.	2.72	.64	2.73	.68	2.71	.57	0.606
Any fine imposed on me for violating environment law is heartily accepted.	2.54	.76	2.57	.55	2.51	.64	1.935
Fine is good a remedy to enforcement of environmental law.	3.01	.45	2.90	.38	3.12	.75	2.396*
I prefer imprisonment to fine as effective tool to enforcement of environmental law.	2.22a	.57	2.31a	.47	2.15a	.66	5.387*
I prefer a seal up order to options 4 and 5 above.	2.67	.41	2.69	.79	2.65	.55	1.129
I prefer paying a fine to going to court for enforcement of environmental law.	2.98	.75	2.99	.51	2.96	.38	1.277
Overall Attitude	2.68	.58	2.69	.67	2.67	.59	0.602

M = Mean

^a Negative attitude

* Significant at p < 0.05; T-critical value = 1.960

            Results in Table 1 show that, overall, the participants had positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law as indicated by a mean score of 2.68 (SD = .58), which is above the criterion of 2.50 set for the study. However, male participants had a higher mean score than female participants (2.69, SD = .67 vs. 2.67, SD = .59). The standard deviations (SD) show that the responses of the participants were narrowly varied.

            In the specific statements regarding attitude to enforcement of environmental law, the participants exhibited positive attitude in all the statements (range of mean = 2.54-3.01, range of SD = .41-.76) expect in statement five, ‘I prefer imprisonment to fine as effective tool to enforcement of environmental law (M = 2.22, SD = .57). However, male participants had higher mean scores in six attitude statements than female participants. The standard deviations in all aspects indicated that the responses of the participants varied narrowly.

            In the test of hypothesis, the results indicated that there was no significant difference (t = 0.602 < 1.960, p < 0.05) in overall attitude to enforcement of environmental law between male and female participants. Specifically, a significant difference between male and female participants was found in two out of seven attitude statements namely: fine is a good remedy to enforcement of environmental law (t = -2.396 > 1.960) and I prefer imprisonment to fine as effective tool to enforcement of environmental law (t = 5.387 > 1.960).

Discussion

The present study ascertained the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environmental law in Ebony State. Results of the study showed that, overall, the participants had a positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. This was an expected finding because a negative attitude to enforcement of environmental law would tantamount to neglect of the environment. One possible implication of neglect of the environment is the spread of diseases. For example, Editorial (2004) noted that environmental conditions are known to contribute to enormous proportion of disease burden and death in Nigeria. Recently, there has been a marked increase in the number of diarrhoea cases in Nigeria. Available data show that cases of diarrhoea increased from 517,309 in 2002 to 550,740 in 2006. This alone put enormous strain on human and material resources, and it is known that diarrhoea and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are environment-related diseases (Editorial, 2004). It is possible to reduce disease burden on human and material resources by complying with environmental laws and a sign compliance with the laws is the positive attitude demonstrated by the participants in the study. Therefore, the finding was plausible and encouraging. The findings are consistent with those of Moses (2004) who found that participants in his study demonstrated an encouraging attitude to participation in solid waste management in Nigeria and as a result were ready to comply with enforcement of environmental laws in their respective states of origin.

The results also showed that both male and female participants in the study had showed positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law. However, male participants exhibited better attitude than female participants and the difference in their attitude was not significant. That there was no significant difference in the attitude of male and female participants to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State was not surprising. This is because, though, men play a very prominent role in environmental sustainability; women tend to be more involved than men in making the environment people friendly. Therefore, the results were encouraging and welcome. One possible implication of the findings could be that in the absence of men, women would be ready to comply with the enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. This analogy is consistent with the findings of Lee (2005) that women he studied tended to support the enforcement of laws that could protect the environment from possible degradation as men did.   

Conclusion and Recommendations

            The findings of the study showed that the grassroots in Ebonyi State of Nigeria had positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law. However, males demonstrated better attitude than females and no significant difference was found in the overall attitude to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State between males and females who participated in the study.

Though the participants demonstrated an overall positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law in the state, the government should create refuse dumps in centrally located places for effective disposal of refuse, and each family should be provided with receptacles, where possible, to enable them collect and dispose their refuse adequately in order to make the environment people friendly. Again, since planning is essential to the evolution of a modern day urban area, planning officers trained not just in urban and regional planning but also in environmental law should be adequately sent to the grassroots for full and instilling proper positive attitude and for effective enforcement of environmental laws in the state

Above all, in order to make people comply with existing environmental law, the following should be done by the agencies responsible for protecting the environment: 1) conduct regular check on communities with regard to compliance with environmental law; 2) form community-based environmental law agency at the grassroots; 3) organise workshops and seminars for people at grassroots on environmental law compliance; 4) include environmental law in the school curriculum at all levels of education, and 5) sensitise people at grassroots on environmental law through mass media campaigns.

However, while the stakeholders should do the above, adequate and effective legislation should be put in place in order to guide in the execution and possible prosecution of persons for environmental law non-compliance. This is because the main weakness in the execution of environmental law in the state is observed to be in the legislation of laws to protect the environment.

The results of the study may not be extrapolated to other groups, in Ebonyi State, who may differ substantially in economic status. The people surveyed represent an important group in the Ebonyi State population and information generated will be useful in legislating future environmental law in Ebonyi State and other states in Nigeria.

References

Anderson, I.W. (2003). Assessing affective characteristics in the school. Boston: Allan and Bacon.

Caldwell, L.K. (2000). Organisational and administrative aspects of environmental problem at various levels. New York: American Elsevier Publishing Co. Inc.

Editorial. (2004). Reviving environmental consciousness in Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Health, 1(1), 12-13.

Edmunds, J, (2004). Authority and responsibility for environmental administration. Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, 445(1), 107-115.

Lee, E.W. (2005). Environmental administration: System approach and intervention process model. Philippine Journal of Public Administration, 26(1), (1982), 1-18.

Letey, J. (1999). Environmental administration. New York: McGraw-hill Books Publishing Co.

Moses, A.J. (2004). Strengthening public participation in solid waste management. Journal of Environmental Health, 1(2), 83-97.

Novey, S.R., Kaye, P.E., & Brookhart, S. (1997). Principles of community engagement. Atlanta, GA.: Department of Health and Human Services.

Ogbazi, J.N., & Okpala, J. (1994). Writing research report: Guide for researchers in education, the social sciences and humanities. Enugu: Press Time Ltd.

Ogbuigwe, A. (1995). Legal and regulatory framework for environmental management in the Niger Delta. Paper delivered at National Workshop on Environmental Development Strategy for Niger Delta of Nigeria at the International Airport Hotel, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, September 12-18.

Olaitan, S.O. (1983). Factors associated with non-utilization of hospital services for antenatal care by pregnant women in rural communities of Anambra State of Nigeria. In O.S. Okobiah, A. Ali & G.B.I. Onuoha (Eds.), Occasional publication of Institute of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (No. 4, pp. 65-70).  Nsukka: Institute of Education, University of Nigeria.

Omaka, C.A. (2005). Environmental law and human right: The natural nexus. Journal of Law and Diplomacy, 2(1), 17-25.

United Nations. (1972). Degradation of the environment and the shared concern by all. Paper presented at the World Conference on Human Environment, Stockholm, Sweden, June 5-16.

United Nations. (2000). Environmental management and development. Nairobi: United Nations.

World Health Organisation. (1999). Evaluation of environmental programmes. Geneva: World Health Organisation.

World Health Organisation. (2004). Health aspects of environmental pollution control: Planning and implementation of national programmes. Geneva: World Health Organisation. 

Department of Geography and Meteorology,

Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu.

Dear Respondent,

Attitude to Enforcement of Environment Law Questionnaire (AEELQ)

I am a post-graduate student of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, pursuing a degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Law. I am conducting a study on Attitude of the Grassroots to Enforcement of Environmental Law in Ebonyi State: A Case of Afikpo North Local Government Area, in which you have been selected to participate.

Below are questions to which you are kindly requested to provide honest responses.  You are simply required, in most parts of the questionnaire, to circle the figure or place a tick (√) against the responses that apply to you. You are assured that all your information will be treated in confidence, therefore, do not write your name on any part of the questionnaire. There is no right or wrong answer. 

            Thanks for your co-operation.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                    Omaka, Chukwu Amari.

                                                                                            Researcher

Section A: Personal Data

            You are required to tick (√) only one option as it applies to you as follows:

            1.         Gender:   a)     Male       [    ]   

                                        b)     Female   [    ]

            2.         Age:     a)         Below 40 years            [    ]    

                                   b)          40 years and above    [    ]

3.            Occupation: 

a)  Farmer                                           [    ] 

b)  Trader                                            [    ]

c)  Civil servant (e.g., teacher)           [    ]     

Section B: Attitude to Enforcement of Environmental Law

            Indicate degree of agreement or disagreement to the following statements. Circle the figure that best represents your opinion.

Key:    Strongly agree (SA) = 4, Agree (A) = 3, Disagree (DA) = 2, Strongly disagree (SD) = 1

		SA	A	DA	SD
4.	There should be environmental law put in place to protect the environment from abuse.	4	3	2	1
5.	Existence of environmental law does not affect me in any    way.	4	3	2	1
6.	Any fine imposed on me for violating environment law is heartily accepted.	4	3	2	1
7.	Fine is good a remedy to enforcement of environmental law.	4	3	2	1
8.	I prefer imprisonment to fine as effective tool to enforcement of environmental law.	4	3	2	1
9.	I prefer a seal up order to options 4 and 5 above.	4	3	2	1
10.	I prefer paying a fine to going to court for enforcement of environmental law.	4	3	2	1

ATTITUDE OF THE GRASSROOTS TO ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN EBONYI STATE: A CASE OF AFIKPO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

By

CHUKWU AMARI OMAKA

PG/PHD/2004/8409

BEING A SEMINAR PRESENTED TO

THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND METEOROLOGY,

FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES,

ENUGU STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, ENUGU, NIGERIA

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD)

DECEMBER 18, 2007

Abstract

The success of environmental protection depends on a large measure on the enforcement of environmental law. However, it has been observed that attitude plays a prominent role a group of people respond to an issue that affects them. The aim of this study therefore was to ascertain the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. A sample of 1500 residents in three communities in Afikpo North Local Government Area completed the questionnaire designed for the study. Out of this number, 1495 (748 men, 747 female) representing about 99.7% return rate, duly completed and returned their copies of the questionnaire and these copies were used for analysis. Mean scores were used to describe the attitude of the participants to enforcement of environmental law. T-test statistic was used to verify the only hypothesis postulated for the study at p < 0.05. Results of the study showed that the participants had, overall, a positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law. However, male participants demonstrated better attitude to enforcement of environmental law than female participants. T-test showed that, overall, there was no significant difference in the attitude to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State between male and female participants. It was recommended, among others, that adequate and effective legislation should be put in place in order to guide the execution and probable prosecution of environmental law non-compliance.

Key words: Attitude, environmental law, grassroots, Ebonyi State.

Introduction

The success of environmental protection depends on a large measure on the administrative effective effectiveness of agencies in charge of strategy formulation and enforcement of laws. This has been brought by various authorities (Caldwell, 2000; Edmunds, 2004; Letey, 1999) and in the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held at Stockholm (United Nations, 1972; World Health Organisation [WHO], 1999). Afikpo North LGA, our case study area, is one of the grassroot local settings in Ebonyi state. It is situated in southern part of the state and predominantly farmers with pockets of civil servants- mostly local government personnel. Although there are some basic infrastructures in the area, it has limited social amenities, such as a central water supply system, good access roads and the like. It is about 66 km to Abakaliki, the capital city of Ebonyi State. Farness to the capital city might affect the people’s attitude to enforcement of environmental law negatively or positively since law enforcers hardly extend their tentacles to the rural communities that make up the LGA.

The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to ascertain the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environment law in Ebonyi State, using Afikpo North LGA as a case. To do this, one hypothesis was postulated for verification at p < 0.05, thus: gender will not make any significant difference in the attitude of grassroots to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. The following research questions will help in conducting the study: what is the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environment law in Ebonyi State (Afikpo North LGA as a case study)? and secondly, what is the attitude of male and female grassroots to enforcement of environmental laws in Ebonyi State?

Conceptual framework

The environment consists of all the physical, chemical, and biological systems of the planet Earth. The interrelationship of man and the environment through social organisations forms the central link that the system or subsystem of environmental law attempts to guard.

Ogbuigwe (1995) conceived environmental law to imply an organised way of using all the laws in man’s legal system to minimise, prevent punish or remedy the consequences of actions, which damage or threaten the environment, public health and safety. To Omaka (2005), environmental law comprises an outline of rules for environmental safety and a survey of legal undertakings to deal with problems of the environment. These efforts, according to him, include legislations, case law and incidental environmental litigation to control abuse of the environment and for the protection and preservation of the essential resources for the enhancement of public health and quality of life. The complex interrelations and interdependencies of human and non-human elements of the environment themselves constitute a general system and sets of subsystems, thus environmental law may be viewed in this context as a subsystem, which attempts to regulate their interactions and overall impact.

Environmental law has assumed a role of crucial importance today because of growing number of programmes and projects that have been mounted in response to the concern for environmental quality. Strong pressures have been exerted on government and other institutions to respond to the urgent call to protect the environment. Unfortunately, the response to this challenge to forestall what many scientists and conservationists regard as an impending doom for the planet has been less than adequate. This deficiency itself may be seen in the administration of environmental programmes, which have been organised in different parts of the world today. The awareness of environmental deterioration and the pressures on government to deal with it more effectively have been generated by the evidence around us in form of polluted water and air, among other indicators (United Nations, 1972; WHO, 1999).

The environment is considered polluted when the physical, chemical, and biological properties of its different components (e.g., air, water, soil, food, and the occupational, residential and recreational environment) are qualitatively changed. This is the consequence of the intentional and unintentional discharge of waste materials, the deliberate use of chemicals, or the dissipation of energy in form of heat, noise, vibration, or radiation. Pollution, thus, occurs when environmental changes create or are likely to create nuisance or hazards to public health, safety, and welfare, or when they are harmful to domestic, industrial, agricultural, recreational and other legitimate uses of environmental components or livestock, wild animals, fish, aquatic life, and other biological species (WHO, 2004).

The uncontrolled discharge of domestic and municipal wastes affects water, soil, and food quality, and this remains the major problem of environmental pollution. The industrialised countries face mainly problems of environmental pollution caused by chemical and physical agents. In many developing countries, including Nigeria where Ebonyi State is situated, there are already limited areas where rapid and uncontrolled urbanisation and industrial development are creating pollution problems of more complex kind, despite the assertion by the economic development-minded  that economic development must be accelerated at all costs now and pollution problems attended to later (United Nations, 2000).

Despite disastrous experiences of the developed countries, for example, Japan, the United States and England, the unofficial policy of development at all costs appears to prevail in many developing countries, including Nigeria, and as a consequence, low priority is given to environmental protection programmes and laws. The ultimate goal of socioeconomic development in development countries is the raising of the quality of life of the people to a tolerable level. This is more than a matter of gross national product (GNP), annual income, or other economic measures, for by its very essence the quality of life implies that environmental quality must itself be tolerable and therefore acceptable. This remains an acute problem in developing countries, which would be magnified as urbanisation and industrialisation are intensified, unless the necessary attention is given to environmental management through enforcement of environmental laws.

As pointed out earlier, the success of environmental protection depends on a large measure on the administrative effective effectiveness of agencies in charge of strategy formulation and enforcement of laws. This has been brought by various authorities (Caldwell, 2000; Edmunds, 2004; Letey, 1999) and in the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held at Stockholm (United Nations, 1972; World Health Organisation [WHO], 1999).

However, enforcement of environmental law among a group of people could be dependent largely on their attitude. Novey, Kaye, and Brookhart (1997) have identified attitude as most important indicator of programme enforcement. Attitude, according to Anderson (2003), is a moderately intense emotion that prepares or predisposes individuals to respond consistently in a favourable or unfavourable manner when confronted with a particular object or thing. In the context of the present study, attitude was viewed as feeling, thinking, or emotion that predisposed people at grassroots at Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State to respond positively or negatively to enforcement of enforcement of environmental law.

Studies in both developed and developing countries have revealed somewhat inconsistent findings regarding the attitude of people to enforcement of environment laws (Lee, 2005; Moses, 2004). However, none of these studies was conducted in Ebonyi State in general and Afikpo North LGA in particular. The present study would close this gap in knowledge.

                                    Methodology

Participants and Setting

In the last couple of weeks (precisely between 5 November and December 12, 2007, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1500 (750 men, 750 women) residents in Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The participants were drawn randomly from five communities in the area under survey. These communities included: Amasiri, Unwana, Ozziza, Akpoha and Ibii. In each community, 300 (150 men, 150 women) were randomly selected using the systematic random sampling technique. Compiling two lists, one for men and the other for women, without any special consideration, facilitated this.

Instrument

            The researcher used a self-developed questionnaire, the Attitude to Enforcement Of Environment Law Questionnaire (AEELQ), which consisted of ten items arranged in two sections; A and B. Section A, contained three items personal data (gender, age and occupation) of participants. Section B, contained seven items meant to elicit information on the attitude of participants to enforcement of environmental law. The respondents were required to indicate on a 4-point scale, how they agree or disagree with the attitude statements namely: strongly agree (SA), agree (A), disagree (DA) and strongly disagree (SD).

            Five experts in environmental management and health education from two institutions of higher learning in south-east of Nigeria were used to establish the validity of the AEELQ. Data collected from twenty residents in Ikwo, a community not included in main study, were used for test of reliability. The data yielded a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.82. The reliability coefficient was higher than Ogbazi and Okpala’s (1994) criteria of 0.60 acceptable for good instruments.

Procedure

Permission was granted from the traditional ruler of each community participating in the study prior to data collection. A consent note with the explanation for the research purpose, method of response and assurance of anonymity was attached to each copy of the AEELQ. The participants were asked not write their names on any part of the questionnaire and were allowed about 30 minutes to complete the AEELQ. Participants who were not able to read or write were asked questions in their native dialect in line with the items in the questionnaire. The researcher thereafter assisted such participants to enter their responses to the items in the AEELQ without any element of bias. 

Data Analysis

The response columns of the AEELQ were allocated scores as follows: SA = 4, A = 3, DA = 2 and SD = 1.  The completed copies of the AEELQ were examined for completeness of responses and copies that had incomplete responses were discarded. Out of 1500 copies of the AEELQ administered; 1495 (748 men, 747 women) representing about 99.7% return rate, were used for analysis. In describing the attitude of participants to enforcement of environmental law, mean statistic was used. A criterion mean of 2.50 was chosen in order to classify the attitude of participants into positive attitude, or otherwise; to the variable under study. The criterion mean score for the study was obtained by adding all the scores assigned to the response options and dividing the sum by the number of the response options as follows:

                       

Thereafter, Olaitan’s (1983) criterion adapted from Likert’s scaling was applied to categorise the construct being studied for the purposes of description. Following from this, mean of 2.50 and above was interpreted as positive attitude, while mean below 2.50 was interpreted as negative attitude to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. On the other hand, in order to verify the postulated hypothesis, T-test statistic was adopted in establishing whether any significant difference existed in the attitude of male and female participants to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. An alpha level of .05 was set for the test of hypothesis. All data analyses were done with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 14.0 for Windows.

Results

Table 1. Means and Results of T-test of Attitude of Grassroots to Enforcement of                  Environmental Law in Ebonyi State (N = 1495)

Attitude Statements	Responses
	Overall		Male		Female		T-value
	M	SD	M	SD	M	SD
There should be environmental law put in place to protect the environment from abuse.	2.61	.52	2.63	.71	2.58	.34	1.724
Existence of environmental law does not affect me in any way.	2.72	.64	2.73	.68	2.71	.57	0.606
Any fine imposed on me for violating environment law is heartily accepted.	2.54	.76	2.57	.55	2.51	.64	1.935
Fine is good a remedy to enforcement of environmental law.	3.01	.45	2.90	.38	3.12	.75	2.396*
I prefer imprisonment to fine as effective tool to enforcement of environmental law.	2.22a	.57	2.31a	.47	2.15a	.66	5.387*
I prefer a seal up order to options 4 and 5 above.	2.67	.41	2.69	.79	2.65	.55	1.129
I prefer paying a fine to going to court for enforcement of environmental law.	2.98	.75	2.99	.51	2.96	.38	1.277
Overall Attitude	2.68	.58	2.69	.67	2.67	.59	0.602

M = Mean

^a Negative attitude

* Significant at p < 0.05; T-critical value = 1.960

            Results in Table 1 show that, overall, the participants had positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law as indicated by a mean score of 2.68 (SD = .58), which is above the criterion of 2.50 set for the study. However, male participants had a higher mean score than female participants (2.69, SD = .67 vs. 2.67, SD = .59). The standard deviations (SD) show that the responses of the participants were narrowly varied.

            In the specific statements regarding attitude to enforcement of environmental law, the participants exhibited positive attitude in all the statements (range of mean = 2.54-3.01, range of SD = .41-.76) expect in statement five, ‘I prefer imprisonment to fine as effective tool to enforcement of environmental law (M = 2.22, SD = .57). However, male participants had higher mean scores in six attitude statements than female participants. The standard deviations in all aspects indicated that the responses of the participants varied narrowly.

            In the test of hypothesis, the results indicated that there was no significant difference (t = 0.602 < 1.960, p < 0.05) in overall attitude to enforcement of environmental law between male and female participants. Specifically, a significant difference between male and female participants was found in two out of seven attitude statements namely: fine is a good remedy to enforcement of environmental law (t = -2.396 > 1.960) and I prefer imprisonment to fine as effective tool to enforcement of environmental law (t = 5.387 > 1.960).

Discussion

The present study ascertained the attitude of the grassroots to enforcement of environmental law in Ebony State. Results of the study showed that, overall, the participants had a positive to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. This was an expected finding because a negative attitude to enforcement of environmental law would tantamount to neglect of the environment. One possible implication of neglect of the environment is the spread of diseases. For example, Editorial (2004) noted that environmental conditions are known to contribute to enormous proportion of disease burden and death in Nigeria. Recently, there has been a marked increase in the number of diarrhoea cases in Nigeria. Available data show that cases of diarrhoea increased from 517,309 in 2002 to 550,740 in 2006. This alone put enormous strain on human and material resources, and it is known that diarrhoea and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are environment-related diseases (Editorial, 2004). It is possible to reduce disease burden on human and material resources by complying with environmental laws and a sign compliance with the laws is the positive attitude demonstrated by the participants in the study. Therefore, the finding was plausible and encouraging. The findings are consistent with those of Moses (2004) who found that participants in his study demonstrated an encouraging attitude to participation in solid waste management in Nigeria and as a result were ready to comply with enforcement of environmental laws in their respective states of origin.

The results also showed that both male and female participants in the study had showed positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law. However, male participants exhibited better attitude than female participants and the difference in their attitude was not significant. That there was no significant difference in the attitude of male and female participants to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State was not surprising. This is because, though, men play a very prominent role in environmental sustainability; women tend to be more involved than men in making the environment people friendly. Therefore, the results were encouraging and welcome. One possible implication of the findings could be that in the absence of men, women would be ready to comply with the enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State. This analogy is consistent with the findings of Lee (2005) that women he studied tended to support the enforcement of laws that could protect the environment from possible degradation as men did.   

Conclusion and Recommendations

            The findings of the study showed that the grassroots in Ebonyi State had positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law. However, males demonstrated better attitude than females and no significant difference was found in the overall attitude to enforcement of environmental law in Ebonyi State between males and females who participated in the study.

Though the participants demonstrated an overall positive attitude to enforcement of environmental law in the state, the government should create refuse dumps in centrally located places for effective disposal of refuse, and each family should be provided with receptacles, where possible, to enable them collect and dispose their refuse adequately in order to make the environment people friendly. Again, since planning is essential to the evolution of a modern day urban area, planning officers trained not just in urban and regional planning but also in environmental law should be adequately sent to the grassroots for full and instilling proper positive attitude and for effective enforcement of environmental laws in the state

Above all, in order to make people comply with existing environmental law, the following should be done by the agencies responsible for protecting the environment: 1) conduct regular check on communities with regard to compliance with environmental law; 2) form community-based environmental law agency at the grassroots; 3) organise workshops and seminars for people at grassroots on environmental law compliance; 4) include environmental law in the school curriculum at all levels of education, and 5) sensitise people at grassroots on environmental law through mass media campaigns.

However, while the stakeholders should do the above, adequate and effective legislation should be put in place in order to guide in the execution and possible prosecution of persons for environmental law non-compliance. This is because the main weakness in the execution of environmental law in the state is observed to be in the legislation of laws to protect the environment.

The results of the study may not be extrapolated to other groups, in Ebonyi State, who may differ substantially in economic status. The people surveyed represent an important group in the Ebonyi State population and information generated will be useful in legislating future environmental law in Ebonyi State and other states in Nigeria.

References

Anderson, I.W. (2003). Assessing affective characteristics in the school. Boston: Allan and Bacon.

Caldwell, L.K. (2000). Organisational and administrative aspects of environmental problem at various levels. New York: American Elsevier Publishing Co. Inc.

Editorial. (2004). Reviving environmental consciousness in Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Health, 1(1), 12-13.

Edmunds, J, (2004). Authority and responsibility for environmental administration. Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, 445(1), 107-115.

Lee, E.W. (2005). Environmental administration: System approach and intervention process model. Philippine Journal of Public Administration, 26(1), (1982), 1-18.

Letey, J. (1999). Environmental administration. New York: McGraw-hill Books Publishing Co.

Moses, A.J. (2004). Strengthening public participation in solid waste management. Journal of Environmental Health, 1(2), 83-97.

Novey, S.R., Kaye, P.E., & Brookhart, S. (1997). Principles of community engagement. Atlanta, GA.: Department of Health and Human Services.

Ogbazi, J.N., & Okpala, J. (1994). Writing research report: Guide for researchers in education, the social sciences and humanities. Enugu: Press Time Ltd.

Ogbuigwe, A. (1995). Legal and regulatory framework for environmental management in the Niger Delta. Paper delivered at National Workshop on Environmental Development Strategy for Niger Delta of Nigeria at the International Airport Hotel, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, September 12-18.

Olaitan, S.O. (1983). Factors associated with non-utilization of hospital services for antenatal care by pregnant women in rural communities of Anambra State of Nigeria. In O.S. Okobiah, A. Ali & G.B.I. Onuoha (Eds.), Occasional publication of Institute of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (No. 4, pp. 65-70).  Nsukka: Institute of Education, University of Nigeria.

Omaka, C.A. (2005). Environmental law and human right: The natural nexus. Journal of Law and Diplomacy, 2(1), 17-25.

United Nations. (1972). Degradation of the environment and the shared concern by all. Paper presented at the World Conference on Human Environment, Stockholm, Sweden, June 5-16.

United Nations. (2000). Environmental management and development. Nairobi: United Nations.

World Health Organisation. (1999). Evaluation of environmental programmes. Geneva: World Health Organisation.

World Health Organisation. (2004). Health aspects of environmental pollution control: Planning and implementation of national programmes. Geneva: World Health Organisation.