By Omotayo Edubi
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, has expressed worry over the constant rise in environmental hazard the country is facing and fears it would become worse if proper actions are not taken.
The minister disclosed this when the management of NatureNews online and ClimateAfrica magazine paid her a courtesy in Abuja, saying that if Nigeria and the world at large fail to get the environment right we cannot have food security because climate change would also affect agriculture.
Enumerating some of the problems facing the environment, she said, “We have so many issues with the environment such as wildlife going extinct, illegal logging, conversation and conservation of biodiversity, coastal erosion, pollution from industries and humans, carbon emission etc”.
Ikeazor added that the ministry of environment and its parastatals are working to ensure habitable environment and raise environmental consciousness in the minds of Nigerians.
She said, “We have agencies under the ministry of Environment such as the National Environmental Standards Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA), which serves as an environmental regulator, environmental operator, environmental capacity builder and environmental advisor.
“National Agency for the Great Green Wall which was made to address land degradation and desertification, boost food security and support communities to adapt to climate change.
“National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), which is in charge for surveillance and ensure compliance with all existing environmental legislation and the detection of oil spills in the petroleum sector especially the Niger Delta”.
“The rest are; Environmental Health and Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), National Parks Service (NPS).”
