Environment
Stakeholders Urge Pragmatic Approach To Environmental Challenges
As Nigeria joined, the rest
of the world last week to mark the 2014 World Environment Day (WED), stakeholders have called for pragmatic efforts to address ecological challenges in the country.
They said this at an event organised by the Ministry of Environment in Abuja last Thursday, to celebrate the day.
The Chairman, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Abuja branch, Mr Akinrele Olusegun, called for a collective approach in proffering solutions to the problems plaguing the country.
“There is the need for concerted efforts to address the ecological, industrial and natural problems.
“In other words, the environmental problems we have are caused by individuals, groups and industrial activities.’’
He urged the private sector and governments at all levels to synergise and ensure the establishment of recycling plants to address the challenges posed by non-biodegradable materials.
Olusegun said that government policies must address the influx of used electronic gadgets and cars, adding that they constitute environmental nuisance to the country.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Values, Dr Sarah Jubril, called for attitudinal change among Nigerian, if the environment must be protected.
Jubril urged the Ministry of Environment to pay more attention to the issues of behavioural change.
The Corps Commandant-General, Environmental Ethics and Safety Corps (ESCORP), an NGO, Emenike Eme, said that collective action was urgently needed to curb rising sea level in the world.
Eme added that there was also the need for deliberate public awareness creation on the causes the environmental challenges and their remedies.
“On our part, ESCORP will continue to make available to agencies under the ministry our services, to bridge the obvious gaps between Nigeria’s many policies and their impact on the society,’’ he added.
In her address, the Chief Executive Officer, Mary Elika Foundation, an NGO, Mrs Mary Manzo, urged youths to be agents of change, in order to achieve sustainable environment in the country.
Manzo tasked youths to use the occasion of the WED to imbibe the culture of green living among them and protect the environment for a healthy living.
She said that the foundation was committed to strengthening its awareness programmes to sensitise youths on the need for them to intensify their environmental consciousness.
“And of course for them to also take care of their immediate environment and know the global challenge that the world is facing as regards climate change,’’ Manzo added.
She said that so far, the foundation had recorded huge successes from the response of school children in terms of positive change in their attitude towards clean environment.
“They have shown a lot of changes in their attitude towards their environment especially their immediate school environment,’’ she said.
Our correspondent reports that the Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, planted a tree in Abuja as part of activities to mark the WED celebrations.
Meanwhile in Lagos, the Federal Controller of Environment, Mrs Olutoyin Agbenla, called for the protection of islands in the face of growing risk and vulnerabilities arising particularly from climate change.
Agbenla made the call in an address of welcome at the 2014 World Environment Day (WED) celebration.
The theme of the celebration is “Small Islands Developing States’’, with the slogan “Raise your Voice Not the Sea Level’’.
She said that the WED was the United Nations principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and positive action on the environment.
“ The purpose of the celebration is to deepen the public awareness on the need to preserve and enhance the environment.
“The theme is meant to inspire all of us to play our part to raise our voices and save the small island developing states from the impact of climate change.
“Also to save them from devastating storms and the threat of sea level rise due to their small size and susceptibility to natural hazards.’’
Agbenla observed that in Nigeria, islands such as Banana Island, Bonny Island, Brass Island, Victoria Island and other coastal zones were also vulnerable to climate change.
According to her, the islands are all experiencing the same threat of sea level rise and beach erosion.
The Ministry of Environment on Thursday in Abuja, advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, validating a comprehensive plan aimed at tackling climate-related challenges in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, said this at the Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on the Development of the concept notes to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for NAP in Nigeria.
Kambari, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Pwol, the Deputy Director in the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the ministry, said that the workshop is a collective resolve to confront the realities of climate change with purpose, strategy, and coordinated action.
“Over the past years, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with crucial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has made significant progress in advancing the NAP process.
“As a nation, we stand at a critical juncture where climate risks ranging from extreme weather events to environmental degradation continues to threaten our socio-economic stability, food systems, public health, infrastructure, and national development aspirations.
“Through extensive technical work, we have completed a Climate Risk Assessment across all geopolitical and agro-ecological zones, developed an Economic Appraisal, an Adaptation Finance Strategy, and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.”
Kambari said that these foundational elements now guide Nigeria to identify priority adaptation needs and investment opportunities.
“Let me mention that we are at the tail end of this NAP Formulation Process and looking forward to the implementation phase.
“This workshop therefore serves as a strategic purpose to harmonise perspectives across key MDAs; refine project ideas into strong, evidence-based concept notes.
“It will ensure that proposed interventions align with national priorities and the investment criteria of the GCF and position Nigeria to competitively access the resources required to strengthen resilience across vulnerable sectors,” he said.
Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the Director DCC in the Ministry said that the engagement would enhance achievements by collaboratively developing bankable, climate-resilient concept notes that align with national priorities and meet the GCF’s investment requirements.
Abiola-Awe who was represented by Dr Jonah Barde in the Ministry said that the workshop represented an important step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience.
She added that the workshop would advance sustainable development, and mobilise the climate finance needed to safeguard Nigeria’s communities, ecosystems, and economy from the growing impacts of climate change.
Effective communication, transparency, and science-based risk assessments are the cornerstones of Nigeria’s approach to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Mr Bello Bwari, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), gave the assurance during a media interaction in Abuja on Friday.
“Where there is communication, you reduce conflict. Effective communication is key, effective engagement with stakeholders is paramount and key to making Nigeria better.
Bwari said anti GMO’s critics keep participants and practitioners on their toes.
“We value them and we expect that their criticisms, suggestions and recommendations will make our operations in the entire spectrum better.
“Where we are not doing so well, we will hear from them, where we can advance explanations, we will advance explanations. Where they are not doing well, we will tell them. We will not run away from doing that.
“But I want to assure you that we are bold enough to face anybody who is not fact-based,” he said.
He reassured that sometime before the end of the second quarter of 2026 there would be a retreat where all stakeholders would be invited.
“And also, the impact we are bringing is going to be measurable by the end of 2026. And going forward, what we do by the end of 2026 will form the basis of our five-year plan.
“There’s a five-year plan which will start at the end of 2026. So, I enjoin the media to please report what you know as a matter of fact, not as a matter of opinion.
“We all have different opinions, but some of our opinions are not facts. From the quality of what I see on papers, reportage, I think largely I’m impressed with what the press is doing in Nigeria so far,” he said.
Bwari stated that Nigerians deserved to understand what NBMA regulates, why they regulate it, and how decisions were made.
“Part of my focus going forward will be strengthening engagement with the media, researchers, policymakers, and the public because regulation works best when it is understood.
“We are not promoters of any technology, and we are not opponents of innovation. We are regulators.
“But at its core, biosafety is about prevention, caution, and preparedness. It is about ensuring that innovation does not outpace safety, and that national development never compromises public health or environmental integrity,” he said.
He promised to uphold the law without fear or favour, communicate more clearly with the public and ensure that every regulatory decision was transparent, evidence-based, and accountable
“NBMA is not an advocacy agency. Our duty is to assess risks, enforce safeguards, and ensure compliance with national and international biosafety standards.I also want to emphasise that public trust matters.
He further urged the media to help Nigerians understand biosafety and biosecurity in a better way.
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