AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

ABSTRACT This study investigated the relationship between environmental quality and economic growth in Nigeria from 1981 to 2023, using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The research explores how environmental sustainability affect economic development, drawing on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, which posits that environmental degradation initially increases with economic growth but decreases as income levels rise. By analyzing decades of time-series data, the study examines the impact of on environmental indicators such as Air quality, water pollution, deforestation and soil quality on Nigeria GDP growth. The findings reveal that while economic progress in Nigeria has improved living standards, it has also led to significant environmental challenges, including decreased in air quality, increase in water pollution, high level of deforestation and decrease in soil quality . This underscores the importance of adopting policies that balance economic growth with environmental protection. The study concludes that for Nigeria to achieve sustainable development, environmental considerations must be integrated into national economic policies. Key recommendations include strengthening environmental regulations, investing in environmental monitoring, Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Economic Development, and Public Awareness and Education on environmental protection. Balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability is crucial for Nigeria's long-term prosperity.