AKU: An African Journal of Contemporary Research

The current research focuses on the interaction between urbanization, waste management, and environmental pollution in Nigeria through an application of ecophilosophy in order to develop a philosophical perspective on a sustainable environment for the Nigerian city. Urbanisation in Nigeria has been proceeding at a faster rate than ethical planning, social responsibility, and awareness of ecological issues, leading to the occurrence of environmental problems including waste dumping, choked drainages, air and water pollution, and a decline in the quality of urban life. This research recognizes the root cause of the problem as a philosophical problem in the relation between man and nature as well as society and the environment rather than just a failure of practicality. In terms of methodology, the philosophical methodologies of analysis and hermeneutics have been used for the purpose of this study. Analysis has been applied to unravel the concept of the interrelation between urbanisation, waste, pollution, responsibility, and sustainability, while hermeneutics has been used for interpreting the meaning behind the attitude towards the environment as found in Nigerian culture. From the findings, it can be concluded that the issue of environmental pollution in urban areas within Nigeria is due to the lack of ethics, lack of good civic culture, disorganised government, and development process that is characterised by the pursuit of growth rather than environmental equilibrium. The results indicate that what is needed for sustainable cities in Nigeria is not only structural reform but also the adoption of an eco-philosophical approach based on responsibility and humanity's connection with nature.

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