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Author: Felicia Imohimi

  • Cholera: Council urges creation of isolation centres in health facilities

    Centre

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 29, 2024(NAN)The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has called on all health facilities to create isolation centres  or camps for effective management of cholera patients.

    Dr Yakubu Baba, EHCON Registrar,  made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

    He said the centres would be managed by the medicals and Environmental Health Officers (EHO).

    Baba said that environmental health could be achieved by putting the necessary preventive measures in place.

    He said that the measures included graduated buckets that collected patient vomitus and the diarrhea; adding that the bucket was purposely for measuring the level of dehydration of patient.

    “The level of dehydration is reported to the medical doctor to make sure that the necessary fluid is been replaced as the patient is passing the vomitus and stool.

    Baba said that the EHO was responsible for the management of contaminated faecal matter and the vomitus of the patient by ensuring continuous disinfection of stool and vomitus.

    “I encourage all EHO working in such facilities to embark on current and concurrent disinfection.

    “The patient and caregivers must also take the necessary universal precautions because of the infectious nature of the disease.

    “I call on healthcare givers to ensure they put on necessary protective equipment and also embark on five level of disinfection which is normally adopted as standard operation procedure as far as cholera outbreak is concern.

    “They should embark on five stages of disinfection measure before they leave the facility, “he said.

    Baba frowned at the rate of visitation of diarrhea patients by loved ones which undermined the infectious nature of the disease.

    He tasked environmental health authority to establish disinfection point adding that any visitor coming in and going out of the centre must be disinfected being the standard protocol of environmental health isolation centres.

    The registrar identified cholera as an infectious disease that caused severe watery diarrhea and vomiting and could lead to dehydration and death if untreated.

    According to him, cholera is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called vibrio cholerae. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    FUA/CJ/

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    Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

  • Cholera: Council embarks on chlorination of water in communities

    Cholera: Council embarks on chlorination of water in communities
    Chlorine
    By Felicia Imohimi
    Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) says it has embarked on chlorination of water bodies in communities where cholera infection has been reported to stop further transmission of the disease.
    The Registrar of the council, Dr Yakubu Baba, said this during interactive session with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
    He said that the council collected over 200 water and food samples across the country “and 80 per cent of the samples collected were positive.
    “Our men are on the field creating awareness, making sure that water bodies that are within reported infected communities are chlorinated so that the people can have wholesome water to drink.”
    Baba urged the public to adopt environmental strategies and hygiene as the surest way of containing cholera.
    He identified interventions at the household level to include ensuring raw foods are washed and water sources are clean by adding reasonable percentage of chlorine.
    “I implore Nigerians to adapt environmental strategies as surest way of containing spread of cholera.
    “Let us embark on massive hygiene measures in our homes, schools and public space.
    “Report cholera outbreak to the nearest health authority for prompt action such as food and water sampling.”
    He noted that once water and food samples are positive, EHCON will ensure chlorination of water in affected communities.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported a total of 1,141 suspected cases of cholera, with 65 confirmed cases.

    The centre also reported 30 deaths across 96 local government areas in 30 states from Jan. 1 to June 11.

    The NCDC listed 10 states that account for 90 per cent of the cholera burden in the country to include: Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos.

    The centre explained that cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by vibrio cholerae, ingested through contaminated water and food.

    It said that water contamination usually result from the faeces of infected individuals during water collection, transportation or storage at home, as food can also be contaminated by unclean hands during preparation or consumption.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    FUA/YMU/HA
    Edited by Yakubu Uba/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

  • Oxfam advocates empowerment of communities on seeds production

    Seed

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN)An international organisation,  Oxfam, has called for a shift from continuous distribution of free seeds to more sustainable approach that will empower communities to produce their seeds.

    Oxfam Country Director, Mr John Makina, made the call at the Crop Diversity for Food Security Project in West Africa round table with humanitarian actors and stakeholders on Thursday in Abuja.

    Makina said that while seed distribution was often carried out with the best intentions, it had inadvertently caused some market distortions, created dependency among farmers and introduced unsuitable crop varieties.

    The director said the goal of the crop diversity project of ensuring local based production of seeds currently being implemented in Bauchi state and Jigawa ,  was to establish a resilient and self-sufficient seed system in the project regions.

    According to him, by doing so, long-term food security and agricultural sustainability will be ensured.

    “The project aim is to rectify these issues by empowering local farmers and their organisations to produce, test, and disseminate diverse and adaptable seed varieties, fostering a sustainable and resilient agricultural system.

    “In Bauchi and Jigawa , where this project is being implemented, farmers now have access to five new diverse varieties of millet and sorghum.

    “This success is due to the rigorous testing of 10 different varieties in 20 communities’ farmer field school demonstration plots.

    “These achievements highlight  effectiveness of participatory variety selection and underscore the importance of involving farmers directly in the decision-making process,” he said.

    Angarawa Ignatius, Country Representative, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Nigeria, said the meeting objectives was to learn how humanitarian actors could support development of local seed systems sustainably.

    He further said it was to ascertain how the role of agricultural producers in humanitarian actions related to seeds could be strengthened.

    According to him, the project is to support smallholder farmers, especially in conflict affected areas to produce seeds and ensure sustainable food production.

    NAN reports that the meeting was organised by Oxfam in collaboration with ICRISAT, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), USAID, Food and Agricultural Organisation(FAO), among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    FUA/CHOM/CJ/

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    Edited by Chioma Ugboma and Chijioke Okoronkwo

     

  • Dogara seeks release of 25% palm oil levy

    Yakubu Dogara

     

     

    Import

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 27, 2024(NAN)Mr Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has appealed to the Federal Government to release the  accumulated 25 per cent palm oil levy.

    Dogara made the appeal at his investiture ceremony as the National Grand Patron of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) by the association on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that the levy, charged on all import of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) into the country, had accrued since 2001.

    Dogara said the levy was purposely for the funding of smallholder oil palm farmers in the country to produce massively.

    He said 600 million dollars spent annually on palm oil importation was unacceptable

    Dogara said that from 2001 to date, the 25 per cent fund had not been released to the targeted populace.

    “There is 25 per cent palm oil levy charged on all import of CPO into this country; since 2001 though l have been in National Assembly for 16 years, I do not know where the money is.

    “l am sure of the rice and sugar level how it has been deployed over time but the resources from palm oil levy are there; so if we can activate the release of this resources, that is enough for us to start with.

    “The gesture will enable the country to become not only self-sufficient in palm oil production but a net exporter of the product as it was in the 60s when Nigeria was the largest producer and exporter.’’

    The former speaker identified palm oil as having enormous opportunities and potential.

    “Giving the industry the needed  attention and enabling policies will boost the country’s economy and increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by N16 trillion  per year.’’

    Dogara urged President Bola Tinubu-led administration to constitute a presidential intervention committee on oil palm to develop the industry to become second palm oil producing country globally after Indonesia against the present fifth position.

    Speaking on his conferment, Dogara said he accepted the offer based on the fact that millions of Nigerians could be lifted out of poverty by utilising the opportunities provided by the industry.

    He said leadership was all about responsibility, adding that there was nothing too heavy, too hard and too difficult for him especially when it concerned the down trodden masses and people that had no opportunities.

    “These are people that have been classified nationally and internationally as multi-dimensionally poor.

    “We always celebrate our problems; that is why we make them bigger; it is time for us now to fight for the solutions.

    “I like when people sit together and they are talking about solutions rather than the problem, l will always be there.

    “Since the endeavour in NPPAN is to bring people out of poverty, l will try all l can to assist the association and the country to achieve the target of lifting 2.5million households out of poverty,’’ he said.

    Dogara said he would immediately swing into action by initiating discussion with policy makers at the National Assembly.

    Earlier, Amb. Alphonsus Inyang, the President of NPPAN, said the association’s selection of Dogara as national grand patron was based on his political trajectory as a leader that believed in results and solutions.

    Inyang identified Dogara as a goal getter that knows how to negotiate in the corridors of power to get things done accordingly.

    “We have made the right choice by working with him; we want to make the industry a millionaire industry like in Malaysia and Indonesia, create millionaires out of Nigerian households which was achievable for Dogara coming on board.

    “His appointment is going to change the industry to a multi-billion dollars economy.

    “He has made declaration of 2.5million families to be lifted out of poverty; Indonesia has done it with 16 million families using oil palm; so Nigeria can do same with Dogara as our national grand patron.

    “We expect to see in the next five years, 2.5million Nigerian households being lifted out of poverty through the cultivation of just one hectre per family” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Chijioke OKoronkwo

  • FG/IFAD, NDDC to scale-up LIFE-ND project in Niger-Delta

     

    Project

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 26, 2024(NAN)The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD) say they are committed to scaling up implementation of Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises Project in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND).

    Mrs Dede Ekoue, Country Director, IFAD, gave the assurance at the Federal Government and IFAD LIFE-ND Joint 4th Supervision Mission workshop on Wednesday in Abuja.

    LIFE-NG project is in response to the limited readily available options for the “disadvantaged” (youth and women) in the rural and suburban communities to improve their means of livelihood and help them to live decent lives.

    Ekoue said the implementation would be scaled up in three states of Rivers, Imo and Akwa-Ibom.

    “We look forward to a scaling up of the project results in the three states originally planned to be funded by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    “LIFE-ND is a programme that has demonstrated successful impact over its five years of implementation.

    “The specific objective of the project is to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women through agri-enterprise development on a sustainable basis in the nine Niger-Delta states.

    “The states are Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo  financed by IFAD while Akwa-Ibom, Imo and Rivers have yet to commence the project implementation under the NDDC funding.’’

    The country director said the supervision mission provided an opportunity to support LIFE-ND to catalyse additional progress for youth and women agribusiness, food security and inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

    She explained that the mission would identify additional strategies to deliver more value to the youth and women agribusiness and to the Niger Delta communities.

    “The mission is happening at a critical junction as IFAD is working on the request for additional finance for the LIFE-ND second phase in the six states covered by IFAD/FG funding, “she said.

    The director urged the supervision mission team to utilise the opportunity to invest fully in the mission to prepare ways for greater impact of the project on the agro-food system transformation in the Niger-Delta.

    Mr Bukar Musa, Director Project Coordinating Unit, FNAFS, said the ministry had made a lot of efforts to sustain LIFE-ND project.

    Musa identified one the efforts as sending series of reminder to NDDC through the Ministry of Niger Delta to produce their financial commitment to bring the three states under its funding on board.

    The director, who assured that the commission would son redeem its pledge, emphasised that efforts were being made for the expansion of the project to other states.

    “We have forwarding memos and letters to the Federal Ministry of Finance for onward delivery to IFAD for the reallocation of additional finance of the unallocated six million dollars.

    “The ministry has equally sent similar letters for the release of 20 million dollars additional financing to forestall any financing gap between the project first phase and second phase.

    ” We have started negotiation of the second phase to enable or bring in more states especially the states of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Imo which hitherto have not enjoyed IFAD funding because they are funded by the NDDC, “he said.

    Musa identified supervision mission as integral to any project in order to access the journey so far.

    Dr Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator, FG/IFAD LIFE-ND, said the project had two main components comprising enhancement of economic opportunities for rural youth and women headed household as well as project management and coordination.

    Sanni said that the first component was aimed at ensuring efficient and effective management of the project achieving results with communication and knowledge management integrated in all aspects of operations, approaches and activities.

    “The other component is aimed at facilitating the establishment of economically and environmentally sustainable agribusiness by beneficiaries.

    “LIFE-ND uses an innovative enterprise development model that leverages investments from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to support unemployed youth and women in high income and job creation enterprises,” he said.

    Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director, NDDC, identified LIFE-ND objectives as domiciled within the commissions mandate areas.

    Ogbuku, represented by Dr Olumide Epebinu, Director, Agriculture and Fisheries, NDDC, said the commission would work assiduously to ensure effective implementation of the project in the three targeted states under its funding.

    Similarly, Ms Munet Sadiku, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, said the ministry was collaborating with IFAD to secure the approval of additional financing.

    “Additional financing will further enhance our capability to address the challenges faced by our farmers and expand the positive impact of the LIFE-ND project,’’ she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    FUA/DE/CJ/

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    Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Chijioke Okoronkwo

     

  • Cholera: Intensify environmental surveillance – FG tells states, LGAs 

     

    Cholera

    By Felicia Imohimi
    Abuja, June 23, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government has urged states and local governments to scale-up environmental health surveillance in places where food and drinks are sold nationwide.

    These places include markets, garages, schools, restaurants, stadia, religious and sporting events venues.

    Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, gave the directive in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Salako emphasised that the measures would help avert further spread and transmission of cholera, as well as aid in the prevention and control of the disease.

    He also urged all Commissioners for Environment and the Local Government Chairpersons to support environmental health officers across the country to step up sanitation and hygiene activities through enhanced community-led total sanitation.

    According to him, it is also to strengthen collaboration with the health authorities and other stakeholders in line with the one health approach of the federal government.

    The minister said that arrangements had been made to support most affected states with chlorine solution or tablets, water and food testing resources to avert further transmission across the country.

    Salako noted that recent situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated a total number of 1,159 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 30 States.

    He identified the most affected states contributing 90 per cent of the total cases to include Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta and Katsina

    “The ministry has been actively involved through the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) in activities to curtail further transmission of the deadly disease.

    “The ministry has been involved through water and food testing to identified sources of infection, environmental sanitation campaigns and household water chlorination,” he said.

    The minister identified cholera as a poor sanitation and hygiene driven disease and an acute diarrhoea infection caused by ingestion of unwholesome food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.

    Salako said that the disease remained a global threat to public health, affecting both children and adults and could lead to death if untreated promptly.

    He further identified it as an extremely virulent disease that takes the period of 12 hours and five days for its symptoms to manifest.

    “The common early symptoms are frequent watery stool that is usually milky white in colour, nausea and vomiting.

    “Cholera outbreak is a seasonal public health event in Nigeria, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and often in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

    “Extreme climate events like flooding are also contributing in multiple ways to drive the outbreak of the disease.

    “The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the global resurgence of cases of cholera classifying the current outbreak as “grade three public health emergency”, requiring maximal WHO system wide response.

    “Nigeria is one of the 14 countries in Africa where the resurgence is being experienced,” he said.

    The minister urged the populace to be more vigilant and to imbibe good sanitation and hygiene practices at home and in their workplace.

    He further tasked all and sundry on preventive measures such as keeping their environment clean always and disposing of waste properly at designated places.

    “Ensure the use of clean and safe water. Water from suspicious sources should be well boiled or treated by adding one pack of chlorine solution to 100 parts.

    “Avoid locally prepared drinks like kunu, zobo, fura da nono, koko, fruit juice among others except it is certain that the preparation was done in a hygienic and safe manner.

    “Wash hands regularly with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, cleaning a child who has gone to the toilet, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after playing with animals, ” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    FUA/DCO/MNA
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    Edited by Deborah Coker/Maureen Atuonwu

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Food inflation: Group urges urgent action to protect FCT farmers

     

    Emergency

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 19, 2024(NAN) Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON) has urged the FCT administration to declare state of emergency on insecurity in order to ensure safety of farmers.

    Mrs Olabisi Ogedengbe, SWOFON Coordinator, Gwagwalada, FCT, made the call at a news conference organised by WSOFON on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The conference was tagged “Emerging challenges affecting smallholder women farmers in the FCT.’’

    According to Ogedengbe, such declaration will address looming food crisis and inflation in the territory.

    Ogedengbe, who decried the alarming insecurity and farmer-herders clashes in FCT, said the challenges had made smallholder women farmers vulnerable and finding difficulties to access their farmlands and incurring losses.

    She identified the security challenge as a contributing factor to the current hike in cost of food among others in the country.

    Ogedengbe alerted that the livelihood conditions of most smallholder women farmers were deteriorating, reaching a point where they struggled to provide food, access healthcare, infrastructure and afford their children’s education.

    “The conference is to draw the attention of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Nigerian Government to the impact of the challenges affecting smallholder women farmers in FCTA.

    “In light of the escalating economic challenges and the concurrent food crises and inflation, SWOFON deemed it imperative to highlight the severe effects on smallholder women farmers in the territory.’’

    Ogedengbe said recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, indicated that the food inflation rate in January 2024 was 35.41per cent on a year-on-year basis.

    “The figure is 11.10per cent points higher compared to the rate of 24.32per cent recorded last year January.

    “Similarly, the Cable news in May 2024, reported that FCT experienced food inflation rate at 38.38per cent

    “The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis started with COVID -19 pandemic and exacerbated by increases in prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, oil and fat among others,’’ she said.

    She called on FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the FCTA to deliberately invest massively in agriculture to ensure food and nutrition security.

    Mrs Comfort Sunday, SWOFON Coordinator, FCT Chapter, identified other challenges faced by the women as barriers to land ownership and control.

    Sunday said most times some of the farmlands were taken over by government for commercial purposes thereby limiting women farmers ability to invest in and benefit from agricultural activities.

    She frowned at the disparities in access to and release of quality seeds, fertilisers, water pumps, solar borehole, Nafsak sprayers and other inputs between male and female farmers.

    According to her, the disparities make it difficult for women farmers to engage in dry seasoning farming, impacting in low agricultural production and food insecurity.

    Sunday said women farmers were disproportionately affected by climate change impacts such as erratic rainfall, droughts and soil degradation describing the challenge as threaten food security and livelihoods.

    She said the farmers lacked resources to implement adaptive measures to environmental challenges threatening food security and livelihoods.

    The coordinator called for reforms to land tenure policies to ensure equitable access to land for women, including legal support and advocacy for land rights.

    “There should be timely release of farm inputs to smallholder women farmers by all tiers of government for this rainy season farming.

    “Federal Government and FCTA should as a matter of urgency provide subsidies and support to our farmers for easy access to inputs such as quality early maturing seeds, seedlings, feeds, organic fertilisers, and pesticides.

    “This will help increase food production, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and stimulate economic growth in the agricultural sector, “(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

     

     

  • Nigeria spends $600m annually on palm oil importation

    Nigeria spends $600m annually on palm oil importation

    Importation

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 18, 2024(NAN)The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), says Nigeria spends 600 million dollars on palm oil importation annually.

    Mr Alphonsus Inyang, National President of the association, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He  described the expenses as unhealthy for national development.

    Inyang said the money could be saved and injected into the economy if the palm oil sub-sector was given due attention by successive governments.

    The president regretted that Nigeria, which was self sufficient in palm oil production in time past,  now spends huge amount to import same product.

    Inyang recalled that in the 60s, Nigeria was number one in palm oil  production and exportation globally, controlling over 60 per cent of world palm oil.

    He said that the reverse was the case at the moment as over 50 per cent of what we consume is imported.

    “At the moment, the country occupies fifth position in the league of palm oil  producing countries after Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Colombia.

    “Nigeria may even lose the position to smaller countries who are investing heavily in the sector.

    “Indonesia occupies the first position,  producing 50 million metric tons, Malaysia second with 19 million metric tons, Thailand 3.28 million and Colombia 1.9 million metric tons,” he said.

    The president attributed the challenge to the negelect of the sector by successive governments.

    Inyang said that based on the U.S.  Department of Agriculture, Nigeria currently occupies fifth position in the league of palm oil producing countries with 1.5 per cent or 1.4 million metric tons of the world’s total output.

    “Nigeria was overthrown as the world’s largest palm oil producer and exporter by Malaysia and Indonesia in 1966.

    “Currently, Nigeria is the largest consumer of the product in the continent, consuming approximately three million metric tons yearly.

    “Domestic production stands at less than 1.4 million metric tons, leaving a deficit of over 1.6 million metric tones,’’ he said.

    Inyang urged government, specifically the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, to support NPPAN members with seedlings to develop 250,000 hectares per year.

    “Our members can plant up to 250,000 hectares per year through the association’s National Oil Palm Strategy Development Plan; all we want are inputs.

    “Government does not need to give and develop land for us, we need seedlings, fertilisers, logistics and implements to close this gab within four years.

    “We will also create new millionaires in 28 states of the federation,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    FUA/DE/JPE
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    Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Joseph Edeh

  • Oil palm producers caution against foreign involvement in primary production

    Investors

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 17, 2024(NAN)The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) has cautioned states and local governments against involvement of foreign investors in primary production of oil palm in the country.

    Amb. Alphonsus Inyang, National President of NPPAN, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    Inyang frowned at promotion of such practices in some states in the country, describing the menace as inimical to national development.

    He said that allowing foreigners to engage in primary production of the product like planting seedlings, nursery and harvest and mill would turn Nigerian citizens into labourers in their country.

    “Foreign investors will pay peanuts to our people as plantation attendants while they declare billions as profit every year and our people will be struggling to feed.

    “We do not want foreign investors to come and plant palm trees and any state promoting such should stop; they should not be involved in primary production.

    “We do not want them in the upstream rather they should be at the downstream that is processing and value addition.

    “Nigerian populace should do the planting while investors provide us with inputs such as planting materials, fertilisers, herbicides and land development for planting and they can as well offtake the harvest.’’

    The president explained that discouraging foreigners from primary production would ensure the distribution of wealth of oil palm sector from rural communities being the primary producers to the millers and makers who would be the investors.

    ‘‘We want a robust out grower system such as the Indonesian model of the “Core and the Plasma.’’

    He said that the investors should build mills and provide inputs for NPPAN members to plant for them.

    “Such model will create millionaires out of our people instead of taking lands from our people and allocating to big men.

    “Government should talk to our association on how to make this model work,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

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    Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi and Chijioke Okoronkwo

  • Environmental crimes tribunal underway–FG

    Tribunal

    By Felicia Imohimi

    Abuja, June 6, 2024(NAN) The Federal Government says it is working towards setting up a tribunal that will be responsible for trying perpetrators of environmental crimes across the country.

    The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Abuja in commemoration of the World Environment Day (WED).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WED is commemorated annually on June 5.

    The theme for 2024 celebration is “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience.’’

    Lawal, who frowned at the rate of unsustainable environmental practices in the country, attributed the challenges to lapses in enforcing existing environmental laws.

    The minister identified greenhouse emission from factories and other domestic appliances as contributors to climate change challenges currently bedeviling the country.

    “Currently, because we are not being strict you discovered that environmental cases are not being treated the way it should be.

    “So, we are working hard and very soon the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) will come out with laws to protect our environment, forest and our local environment against pollution.

    “So, we are going to establish tribunal that will try environmental crime very quickly so we need AGF’s support.

    “I urge the stakeholders to help us in enforcing existing environmental laws we are going to try to improve on the laws protecting our environment.’’

    Lawal said that Nigeria was facing environmental challenges like other parts of the world due to variety of factors ranging from deforestation, unsustainable land practices and other impacts of climate change.

    He said that such practices not only threatened the health and wellbeing of the people but also jeopardised the development of the ecosystem.’’

    Lawal said the country recently signed bilateral framework agreement on transboundary ecosystem conservation, sustainable management of forestry and wildlife resourced with the government of Cameroon.

    He identified the gesture as a milestone that would help in the preservation of biodiversity.

    The minister urged stakeholders in the sector to recommit themselves to the goal of activating and restoring the country’s land and environment and the stewardship of the planet. .

    He specifically tasked all Nigerians on tree planting around their houses.

    “We campaign to all of us to plant trees around our houses which is the only way to address degradation and deforestation affecting our land.’’

    We need to increase our efforts at tree planting; so, we encourage agencies, departments to come in and support the ministry to plant trees.

    “We have to declare emergency on our forest cover which is so bad that we need to take drastic action to address this issue, “he said.

    Mahmud Kambari, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said collective action and collaboration was required to tackle the complexities of environmental degradation.

    Kambari urged stakeholders to harness the power of innovation and technology, science and traditional knowledge to unlock solutions that would restore the nation’s land, enhance drought resilience and combat desertification.

    “Let us not forget the profound connection between environmental sustainability and human wellbeing.

    “The health of our ecosystems directly impacts the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians who depend on land for food, water and shelter.

    “By prioritising environmental conservation, we are not only safeguarding our natural heritage but also promoting socio-economic prosperity and resilience for all,’’ he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    FUA/CJ/

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    Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo