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Abstract
Science and technology have transformed everyday life in Nigerian cities, yet their environmental consequences are rarely measured at the level of residents' lived experience. This study examined the effect of science and technology adoption on the physical and social environment of Enugu metropolis, Nigeria, and tested whether environmental awareness moderates the physical-environmental effect. Anchored in ecological modernisation theory, the STIRPAT model, and the social construction of technology, the study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. A multistage sample of 412 adult residents drawn from Enugu North, Enugu South, and Enugu East local government areas completed a 27-item structured questionnaire measuring technology adoption intensity, physical environmental degradation, technology-enabled social connectedness, technology-related social disruption, and environmental awareness. All constructs showed adequate reliability (Cronbach's α = .84–.88; composite reliability = .84–.88). Hierarchical regression showed that technology adoption intensity significantly predicted physical environmental degradation (β = .41, p < .001, f² = .18), technology-enabled social connectedness (β = .34, p < .001, f² = .13), and social disruption (β = .23, p < .001, f² = .05). Environmental awareness weakened the link between technology adoption and physical degradation (β = −.19, ΔR² = .036, f² = .05). The findings show that technology in Enugu is a double-edged force: it strengthens social networks while degrading the physical environment and loosening communal ties, and awareness partly buffers its ecological cost. The study recommends coordinated e-waste regulation, investment in clean energy to reduce generator dependence, and community-based digital and environmental literacy programmes.