By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA) has urged the Federal Government to set up a special Trust Fund for the restoration of ecosystems in the country.
Mr Mike Karikpo, Director, Program and Administration, ERA/FoEN made the call in a statement on Monday, in commemoration of the World Environment Day, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.
He stated that without concerted actions to preserve, restore and enhance the viability of our ecosystems, capacity to make progress in critical areas such as education, health and employment would be greatly compromised.
The director said funds set aside for ecosystem restoration should be in the region of $200 billion dollars so that within the next 10 years, the Niger Delta and other environment could be restored, and within 30 years host communities would not be left to bear the burden of a degraded environment.
He emphasised that the country must act now to save the environment and lives, urging government at all levels to get actively involved.
Karikpo stated that restoring the environment in the Niger Delta from further degradation, as well as curtailing desert encroachment in the North, were urgent tasks that must be undertaken.
Ojo stated that restoring the ecosystem would enhance biodiversity, clean polluted rivers and contaminated soil and improve local livelihoods of our people.