Environment
Ex-Gov’s Aide Wants Remediation Of Egi Environment
The Eze Mbo K’ Egi of Egi Kingdom in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State Prince Shedrack Akolokwu has called for effort to remediate the Egi environment.
Akoloku who said at a recent event at Erema Town also said long years of oil production has left indelible footprint on the Egi environment.
He said some of the inprints have been positive, while others have been negative adding that oil companies, specifically Total Elp never planned to bring flood waters from the River Niger to inundate the Kiparian communities in its area of operations.
“This is the paradox of unintended consequences, yet when the great floods come annually, oil fields, oil wells, flow stations, production platforms, well head, waste pits, pipelines, tank farms, various oil and gas bore-holds are covered and the contents are spewed into the Egi environment, including surface waters and underground aquifers.
“Particularly soluble toxic chemicals, non-biodegradable substances ruin the environment.”
Akolatwu who is a former Senior Special Adviser to Governor Wike, said time has come for everyone to work collectively to restock the Egi environment.
“This is the era of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose focus is on Economy, Environment, Sustainability, “we believe you can individually or collectively act deliberately to regrow and regenerate the Egi environment, especially to replenish its diminished hitherto ruin diversity.
“You can organically support the planting of more trees, the creation of green verges, the demarcation of forest reserves, the reintroduction of lost-flora and fauna in order to not only increase the oxygen supply in our threatened ecosystem, but also to deliberately create environmental sustainability.
“I urge you all to support the restocking of our wild grooves, rivers courses, lakes, swamps, water channels, rivulets and deliberate ecosystem” he said.
According to Akalokwu, with collective effort, the people of Egi can rejuvenate their environment through the green environment scheme.
“We can turn public schools, command centres, intra and inter community roads into viable, attractive biodiversity centres.
“If Pakistan can successfully tackle aridity from the far desert with the planting of six billion trees, Egi kingdom can be turned Rwanda.
“Honours from such efforts by all of us shall be everlasting and you would have left more plant footprints on our land and clime” he said.
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.
-
News16 hours agoNLC Threatens Nationwide Protest Over Electoral Act Amendment
-
Politics13 hours agoI DEFECTED OUT OF CONVICTION …NO ONE COULD’VE IMPEACHED MY LATE DEPUTY ~ DIRI
-
Maritime14 hours agoCustoms Hands Over Seized Cannabis Worths N4.7bn To NDLEA
-
Maritime15 hours agoOver 6,223 Seafarers Abandoned In 2025 – Says ITF
-
Sports12 hours agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
Environment11 hours agoRivers State Government Suspend Fire Service Collection Levies
-
Politics13 hours agoWe’ve Not Recognized Any PDP Faction — INEC
-
Education13 hours agoFG commends FUET over historic beginning as VC lament over poor funding