Environment
Minister Wants Reps To Tackle Artisanal Refining
The Minister of State for Environment, Chief (Mrs.) Sharon Ikeazor, has called on members of the House Committee on Host Communities to help in addressing the activities of artisanal refining in Ogoniland.
She made this appeal during her interactive session with members of the House Committee on Host Communities.
The Minister of State expressed appreciation to the committee for its keen interest and follow-up on the progress of work on the Ogoni clean-up project. Chief Ikeazor in her brief, informed members of the committee that the Ogoni clean-up project is a priority project for the President, pledging that she will do all that is required to ensure that the people of Ogoni get the full benefit from the project.
She informed the committee that she recently held a stakeholders engagement with the Ogoni communities in Bori, to enable her interface with the owners of the project and get a firsthand information on their expectations and concerns about the project.
Giving her brief, Ikeazor disclosed that the long-awaited water for the people of Ogoni has been addressed as six water contractors are currently working to provide potable water in Ogoniland, while additional 12 water contractors will soon be engaged. She informed the committee that HYPREP has completed nineteen (19) of the twenty-one (21) lots in Phase 1 Batch 1 remediation works, eighteen (18) lots have been certified and closed out by NOSDRA while the remaining two (2) lots are at different stages of completion. She further explained that in 2020, contracts were awarded for the
Phase 1 Batch 2 works of thirty-six (36) lots, which comprises twenty-nine (29) soil remediation and seven (7) lots in Tier 2 (T-2) assessment of groundwater. She informed the members that the seven (7) lots for assessment of groundwater have since been completed while remediation works on the twenty-nine (29) lots are at different stages of completion. She was happy to announce to the Committee that fourteen (14) remediation lots on this phase have been completed, two (2) have been certified and closed out by NOSDRA while others are awaiting NOSDRA certification.
The Minister also informed the committee that HYPREP is working with UNEP to carry out reconnaissance of polluted sites that were not covered in the UNEP Report, this she added is to improve the capacity of farmlands and aquatic environment to support farming and fishing activities. 156 out of 176 sites have been visited by the HYPREP/UNEP tam. She expressed excitement to members of the committee at seeing green vegetation growing on a polluted site that had been remediated in Alode, Eleme Local Government Area when she last visited.
She however noted with great concern cases of vandalisation, contractors not allowed access to sites, delay on some remediation sites caused by restive youths, chieftaincy tussles and communal disputes.
Further in her briefing, the Minister informed the members that HYPREP has trained youths of Ogoni in various aspects of remediation and has created over 2300 jobs. Furthermore, Ikeazor said HYPREP has designed programs to provide alternative livelihood for the people of Ogoni, adding that youths will be trained to provide surveillance in Ogoni while the livelihood programs will also target those involved in artisanal refining to provide them with alternative means of livelihood.
The Permanent Secretary, Engr. Hassan Musa informed the committee that the Minister has come with the determination and vigor to ensure quality and timely delivery of the project.
The Project Coordinator, Prof. Philip Shekwolo while responding to questions took members of the committee through the process of the soil recovery through natural attenuation and bio-remediation. The PC submitted to the committee a presentation which covered the life cycle of the four (4) thematic areas of the project, namely, remediation, livelihood, water and health.
The Director General of NOSDRA, Mr. Idris Musa told the committee that the teething problems which caused delays in the clean-up project have been addressed. He assured the members that the project will now run smoothly and faster. The DG stated that HYPREP has achieved about 68 percent out of the originally delineated lots.
By: Donatus Ebi
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.
-
Sports3 days agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
Sports3 days agoU-20 WWC: Falconets claim qualifier win
-
Sports3 days agoInsurance Deepen Enyimba’s Trouble
-
Sports3 days agoYouth Olympics preparation Gears up
-
Sports3 days agoCologne Youth Team Set Crowd Record
-
Sports3 days agoTornadoes Set For NPFL exit over Stadium Ban
-
Sports3 days agoPalmer Stars As Chelsea Compound Wolves Woes
-
Sports3 days agoBarca Pull Out Of Super League Project