By George George Idowu
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to planting 25 million trees by 2030 while emphasizing the dual benefits of environmental protection and job creation for Nigeria’s youth within the green economy.
The President disclosed this in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, to mark World Environment Day.
He called for increased efforts in afforestation, water conservation, and halting the indiscriminate felling of trees across the country.
Highlighting the theme “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” he noted its particular relevance to Nigeria, where drought poses a significant threat.
To address climate challenges, Tinubu established the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, as well as Nigeria’s first Green Industrial Zone, Evergreen City, aimed at becoming Africa’s leading hub for renewable energy and green technologies.
Citing the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Tinubu stressed the urgency of action, with 40% of the planet’s land degraded and droughts increasingly affecting global populations. He called for collaborative efforts to ensure a prosperous and clean economic future for all.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal has also called on all relevant stakeholders in the environmental sector to unite in ensuring total enforcement of existing environmental laws and regulations with a view to preventing further degradation of the land.
He said that even though a lot has been done towards restoration of the environment, much work still needs to be done.
He stressed that concerted efforts of all stakeholders, including government agencies, private sectors, academia, and Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s), are needed in order to achieve environmental sustainability.
He emphasized the need of controlling air, water pollution, amongst others, by promoting sustainable waste management practices. “Our efforts to reduce plastic waste and encourage recycling must be intensified at all levels.”
He made this appeal on Wednesday in Abuja during the celebration of the world environment day with the theme: “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience.”
According to him, this can be achieved by promoting sustainable land use practices, enforcing land tenure rights, and cracking down on illegal logging, deforestation, poaching, and all other acts capable of destroying the natural environment.
He said: “We must invest in the rehabilitation and restoration of degraded landscapes through afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable land management techniques that would enhance ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water filtration.”
He highlighted how Nigeria, amongst other countries in the world, is facing significant environmental challenges.
The minister explained how land resources are under immense pressure from a variety of factors ranging from deforestation, unsustainable land management practices, and the adverse impacts of climate change.
According to him, these challenges not only threaten the health and well-being of the people but also jeopardize the sustainability of the ecosystems and the prosperity of the future generations.
Lawal disclosed some critical initiatives that the ministry has set aside to address the challenges.
In his words: “I am pleased to report that Nigeria is making significant progress in addressing land degradation and desertification through initiatives such as the Great Green Wall Project (GGW), Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACResal).”
He said partnerships have been made with local communities, civil society organizations, and international partners to mobilize resources and expertise towards reviving the lands, ecosystem, and environment in general.
Lawal called for the exploration of technologies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as it has a critical impact on the environment.
He said: “Globally, there is the need to explore technologies that will drastically reduce Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions, especially in the transport sector and other domestic appliances.
“We must endeavour to mainstream climate change adaptation and resilience-building measures into our national development plans and policies. This includes promoting climate-smart agriculture and providing support to vulnerable communities to adapt to changing environmental conditions. International cooperation and partnerships must be strengthened to address trans-boundary environmental challenges and share best practices,” he added.
He assured that Nigeria will continue to collaborate with other neighbouring countries in the Sahel region to implement the Great Green Wall project as well as harness the expertise and resources of international organizations and donors.
The minister further reiterated the importance of saving the environment. “let us always keep in mind that our environment is what we are. It simply returns back what we offer to it. A well natured and sustained environment is directly proportional to the benefits it provides to humanity.
“I would like to call on each and everyone to seize the opportunity presented by World Environment Day to redouble our efforts in accelerating land restoration, enhancing drought resilience, and combating desertification. By working together, we can build a more sustainable and resilient future for Nigeria and the world,” he concluded.