Abuse of religion and environmental pollution in Nigeria: An Islamic perspective

Abstract

The proliferation of places of worship and the increase in the number of devotees of religions are considered by many to be a welcome development, but their adverse effects on environmental degradation have hardly been considered. This paper attempts to study the role or the abuse of religion on environmental pollution and its implications for sustainable development in Nigeria. Based upon primary and secondary information, this study found that religion has largely been misused by its practitioners resulting in environmental pollution, with a serious negative influence on sustainable development. The paper further suggests possible solutions to this problem on the basis of Islamic injunctions for sustainable environmental development.