OHAZURUME - Unizik Journal of Culture and Civilization

There is no doubt that the world has woken to the reality that human existence is inextricably tied to environmental sustainability. Discourses revolving around environmental sustainability have therefore become increasingly important globally. How to maintain environmental sustainability while carrying out necessary human activities has become the concern of policy makers as well as scholars. History has an important role to play in addressing this concern. This is because history holds in store an array of methods that various generations have used to solve a similar or related problem with moderate modifications. Given the exploitative nature of colonialism, it can be confidently asserted that the sustainability of the Nigerian physical environment was to a larger extent than ever before compromised and undermined during the colonial era. One of the major activities of the colonial government that affected the physical environment than any other was the construction of physical infrastructure like roads and houses. However, the colonial officers knew the implications of the construction operations and activities on the environment and also took measures to mitigate them, at least to make the environment last for their use. This paper studies the construction practices of the PWD, how and to what extent they affected the environment and how the PWD attempted at mitigating these effects to conserve the environment. The essence of the study is to reveal recyclable measures that can be used to check current construction-related threats to the environment and ensure its sustainability. The study adopts a historical method and relies on primary and secondary sources of information.

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