World Environment Day: Stakeholders call for preservation of Ecosystem

Stakeholders in the Environment sector of Nigeria has called for the preservation  of the ecosystem.

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment Mr. Muhammed Abdullahi said the government would continue to put policies in place to ensure a clean sustainable environment.

The Minister disclosed this at a sensitisation Campaign walk and clean up exercise to mark this year’s activities to commemorate World Environment Day, in collaboration with European Union in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“A devastated environment can lead to the deaths of human beings, we saw what happen during the Covid-19, my appeal to the citizens is have a clean environment  and ensures we keep our surroundings  clean. We are kick starting this day with a visit to Jabi lake, our visit to Jabi Lake was to ensure that all trashcan thrown into the lake are retrieve harness and put into use, which  can be recycle for viable economic ventures for people,” he explained.

Ambassador Samuela Isopi today joined others in the clean up of Abuja’s Jabi Lake Park as part of events to mark the World Environment Day. pic.twitter.com/fOTxY9qshO

— EU in Nigeria 🇪🇺🇳🇬 (@EUinNigeria) June 4, 2022

Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria Ms. Samuela Isopi said the  campaign aimed at cleaning part of the Jabi lake, to helped the fishermen exploit the lake for their subsistence.

“It is my pleasure to be part and contribute to this initiative with the Federal ministry of environment and colleagues from the French embassy. As you may know, the world environment day will be celebrated all over the world, yet we decided to start earlier with this symbolic walk towards one of the most popular places during the weekend in Abuja,” Isopi stated.

Ms. Isopi said more effort  is needed to ensure that the Nigeria Ecosystem is  preserved.

“Today campaign is symbolic, yet important, plastic waste is a major threat to our daily life if not properly managed. For instance, I know that  fishermen are exploiting the lake for their subsistence, we can therefore support them by watching our habits,” Isopi stated.

“Only one earth. Together we can protect it” Today @SamuelaIsopiEU & other staff of @EUinNigeria joined @FranceInNigeria & Federal Ministry of Environment on a 🚶‍♀️ to mark World Environment Day 2022. pic.twitter.com/PyOM9nmsSe

— EU in Nigeria 🇪🇺🇳🇬 (@EUinNigeria) June 4, 2022

She commended the minister for ensuring that the environment  is protected for both human and Ecosystem.

The Deputy Ambassador French Embassy Mr. Oliver Chatelars also noted that the European commission would work with Nigeria government to ensure a healthy environment for all.

“In 2015 French made a treaty on environment and if the requisition of the treaty are not followed plastic waste will multiply, all the countries are victims of plastic waste especially the Africa countries.” Mr. Oliver explained.

Representative of Oxfam in Nigeria, Mr. Kenneth Akpan  said the organisation have been engaged in advocacy and sensitisation campaign  in Nigeria to  helped the citizens know more about their environment.

“We are privilege to partner with Ministry of environment considering the menace of Climate Change  our approach is advocacy and  sensitization which we believed if  people know much of what they need to do concerning their environment  everybody will take responsibility and not leave it for the government,” he said.

He however appeals for more Climate funding for Africa countries.

“Oxfam is very interested in the Climate crisis that is why the Oragnisation is pushing for more Climate financing, which  we believed is the solution  and challenge  we have here in Africa. Especially in the southern Africa,” he added.