The Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor has reaffirmed her commitment towards promoting and boosting environmental conservation in the country.
The minister said this would help the sustainability of the country’s biodiversity and exotic ecosystem for the livelihoods of citizens.
Sharon Ikeazor made the commitment when she received ECOWAS Advisor, Dr. Adewale Adeleke, who led a delegation of the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emission Development Project (WABILED) on a working visit to her office in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
According to the Minister, “the sustenance of the nation’s biodiversity is a core priority of the federal government”.
“The fact is, we have not really paid attention to the issue of conservation in the past. But now, it is an area of focus for us. Our life and livelihood depend on the ecosystem. Hence, we must put a deliberate effort towards boosting biodiversity conservation”. Ikeazor explained
She noted that working with other Ministers of Environment in Africa, Nigeria will ensure that Africa makes a statement among the committee of nations in the forthcoming COP27 slated for Egypt later in the year.
She also noted that the Ministry of Environment will support every effort at conservation and wildlife protection as we look forward to COP27, to ensure that Africa present a strong voice as we continue to work with other Ministers of Environment from Africa.
Support appeal
Ikeazor also appealed for the support of WABILED in the implementation of Nigeria’s Wildlife Strategy Plan, as well as the signing of the Trans-Boundary Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Cameroon, which she described as key to the nation’s conservation efforts.
Dr. Adeleke, in his remarks, noted that the mission of the WABILED delegation to the Ministry was to appreciate the Federal government’s role in the conservation and sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.
He however solicited Nigeria’s support for the final endorsement of the ‘West Africa Strategy for Combating Wildlife Crime’ by the ECOWAS Ministerial Council and Heads of State Summit.
Olusola Akintonde
