Minister Advocates for Cleaner Environment 

The Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria, says it is working on a roadmap that will help protect and clean the immediate environment with prompt implementation of environmental projects in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment Mr Barabe Lawal, who stated this during  the maiden meeting with Evironment correspondents in Abuja, the nation’s capital said the policy which would also include the general public will help to keep the environment clean at all times.

“We are going to be aggressive with the implementation of the projects in the environment ministry.” Whatever we are going do will  be  around the eightMinister Advocates for Cleaner Environment  point agenda of Mr. President.” He said .

He explained that Ministry is also collaborating with state governments to deliberate on the policy roadmap on how to improve the environment across the various states.

He said the circular economy is also an important part of the Nigeria economy, which the ministry will also be engaging with the states government on wastes management.

“One area I think is very close to our heart is the linear economy, which has to do with the issues of pollution, Nigeria is doing very badly in the area of pollution, we are trying to create an economy that would not allow garbage but to create an economy that will take that garbage and turn it into wealth, environmental pollution is another area that my ministry is doing everything possible to tackle.” He said.

Ogoni Clean-up
Lawal noted that it’s been eight years that the clean up of Ogoniland has been on and expressed optimism that the environmental challenges faced in Ogoniland would soon be resolved.

He, however, promised to engage the people and the companies that operated in that area to find a lasting solution to the Ogoni pollution menace.

“We are going to start a new community development in Ogoniland where we will get the community involved in the clean up, the traditional institutions, youths, and stakeholders.

“Ogoni is just one out of other places in the country that has these issues of environmental pollution,” we are going to address it  in the past  there are so many challenges, litigations, a lot of misunderstanding. So we’re trying to look at that closely, in the next few weeks, also intend to travel to the River state and the four local government areas, the coordinator for local governments.” The  Minister said.

He also pointed out plans to curb desert encroachment with the help of the National Great Green Wall Agency but appealed to the federal government on security.

“We have agencies like the great green wall that has been trying to address issues of desert encroachment and the planting of trees to discourage deforestation.” He said.

The Minister further added that the ministry would collaborate to curb the activities of loggers as well.

Lawal urged residents to take care of their environment by ensuring it is rid of dirts.

“we are the ones that cause some of the environmental issues, by littering the places with dirts.” He added.

COP 28
The Minister said that ministry has set up a technical committee that will negotiate all aspects of Climate at the COP 28 coming up in Dubai. 

“The Ministry is  working on that and with the National Council on Climate Change, to ensure that Nigeria representation at the COP 28 is focus on critical areas.” He said.

Open Defecation
The Minister reaffirmed the government commitments in addressing issues surrounding open defecation in the Nigeria.

He explained that the government is working on reviving the sanitary inspectors in the country.

He said the Ministry is also collaborating  with ministry of Water Resources in ensuring that open defecation is address.

“Sanitary issues are now divided between us the Ministry  Environment and Water Resources, during the retreat we had an agreement that the Ministry of Environment and Water Reasorces will  sit down and see how we can recreate thses  departments of sanitary  inspectors, those that will go round and inspect  and  see how we can address this issues of open defecation, because it is an environmental issues, most of the issue affecting us is because of lack of taking care of our environment.” The Minister stated.

Speaking further on this, he urged the public to please imbibe on toiletries and stop open defecations because Nigeria by now should have be focusing on another thing if the public adhered to the campaign against this.

The Minister said that partnership would be carried with all its agencies and stakeholders to mitigate climate change.

 

 

 

Shakirat Sadiq