Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi says the Federal Government will support efforts to raise awareness on the protection of Nigerian mangrove ecosystems for the provision of suitable livelihoods.
Abdullahi said this in a press statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, on the commemoration of the10km mangrove ecosystem awareness marathon.
He was represented by the Conservator-General, National Park Service (NPS), Dr Ibrahim Goni.
The minister said that the Mangrove Marathon is aimed at marking the 2022 International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems annually celebrated on July 30.
Abdullahi said the Federal Government had promised to support the protection of the Nigerian mangrove ecosystems to the coastal communities in Nigeria as well as the world at large.
He said that mangrove ecosystems are found in the fringes between the sea and the land along coasts and riverbanks where fresh and saltwater meet.
Abdullahi added that mangrove ecosystems had continued to serve as food, shelter, income, medicine and protection for people from coastal erosion and sea waves amongst others.
He said that globally, the ecosystems are rare areas of about 240,000 square kilometres in 123 tropical and subtropical nations of the world.
Abdullahi said this represents less than one per cent of all the tropical forests worldwide and less than 0.4 per cent of the total global forest estate.
The Minister said that Nigeria has the largest mangrove ecosystems in Africa and it is the third largest in the world with an estimate of 7.386sq.km having lost 26 per cent since 1980.
He said that although these ecosystems are known to perform immense socio-economic and ecological functions, no policy has been enacted for their conservation in Nigeria.
However, he said this gesture has been changed by the recent establishment of 10 additional national parks across the country by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the gesture has brought the total number of national parks in the country to 17, with two, Apoi and Edumenum National Parks, located in the Bayelsa State’s ecosystems.
The Minister expressed worry that mangrove forest in the country is still being decimated at alarming rate due to unprecedented and unsustainable threats.
According to him, the threats arise from oil pollution, extraction, invasive species, and municipal development.
Abdullahi added that it arose from oil spills as well as lack of public awareness and understanding of the importance and functions of mangrove forest to humanity.
He commended the Mangrove Marathon organisers for initiating the torch-lighting event to raise awareness for the effective protection and conservation of the unique mangrove ecosystems in the country.
The minister assured the NPS of his participation in the 10km awareness run in Warri, Delta State coming up on July 30.
The marathon was ceremoniously kick-started by passing around the torch from the minister to representative of each of the states with mangrove ecosystems in the country.
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