The Federal Ministry of Environment has inaugurated the newly appointed Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards of Agencies under the Ministry.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the nation’s capital, the Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal, said the Ministry will continue to provide strategic leadership, coordination, and capacity enhancement across the environmental sector.
“Your selection to serve on these Boards reflects the administration’s strategic prioritisation of environmental governance as a pillar of national development.
“The agencies under your oversight serve as critical tools and institutional anchors for Nigeria’s response to both domestic and international environmental obligations.
“We will also foster inter-agency collaboration as well as policy alignment to ensure that our collective efforts are coherent, impactful, and guided by evidence,” he stated.
The Minister also urged the board members to embrace a systems-thinking approach to governance, one that promotes cross-agency collaboration and fosters transparency and accountability.
“I would like to call on all newly inaugurated Board Members to always ensure that Board decisions align with key national frameworks, including the National Environmental Policy, the Revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and the Green Economy Strategy, among others.
“Your leadership is crucial in mainstreaming environmental priorities into sectoral policies and development planning at both the federal and sub-national levels.
“Our shared objective is to co-create practical and inclusive solutions that safeguard our environment and enhance the quality of life for all Nigerians,” he explained.
According to the Minister, “Our goal is to deliver measurable and transformative outcomes that align with national priorities and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation, Goal 13 on climate action, and Goal 15 on life on land.
“In doing so, we will also strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems, support innovation, and promote inclusive stakeholder engagement to ensure no one is left behind.”
The Minister also charged the newly appointed Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards of the Agencies to bring to bear technical expertise, governance experience, and unwavering commitment to public service in the discharge of their duties.
“Together, let us accelerate the transformation of the environmental sector into a resilient, efficient, and innovation-driven ecosystem that advances sustainable national development,” the Minister said.
The Minister also commended President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support for environmental governance and climate resilience initiatives aimed at securing a healthier and more prosperous future for all Nigerians.
He stressed that the inauguration of the newly appointed Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards of the Agencies under the Ministry reflects President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s strategic prioritisation of environmental governance as a pillar of national development.
In his remarks, Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Mr. Mike Etaba, urged the Board Chairmen and Members to cooperate and give maximum support to the agencies.
“We pray that you cooperate with them and give them the necessary support to be able to drive the process.
“Look at where we are today. Almost every state is flooded, and if the boards are not functioning effectively, how would the agencies and ministry function effectively?
“And for the board that you just inaugurated, I pray that other agencies and other departments would have followed due process in the course of approval,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Governing Board Members, Senator Magnus Abe commended President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity, adding that the Governing Board will bring experience, abilities, and capacities to help deliver on the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.
“Today, we have been brought on board to help deliver on that renewed hope agenda. I think it is our responsibility that all the agencies we have been appointed to serve on should provide service in such a way that Nigerians who come into contact with these agencies after our appointment and inauguration, will notice a difference between the way the agencies operated before we came,” he added.
The Chairmen of the governing boards are:
- Senator Magnus Abe, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW)
- Ma’azu Mohammed Bawa Rijai, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA)
- Hon. Garba Datti Mohammad, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
- Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON)
- Hon. Abdulmalik Ahmed Usman, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN)
- Chief Edward Omo-Erewa, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA)
- Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, National Park Service (NPS)