The Federal Ministry of Environment says it plans to improve security to recover the nation’s forests.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made this known at a top management retreat held on Thursday, January 11, 2024, in Kaduna.
The retreat has as its theme: “Policy Embodiment and Prioritisation of Key Action for a Renewed Hope in Environmental Management”..
According to him, the forests have become habitation grounds for bandits, poachers and kidnappers hence slowing the nation’s progress on its Great Green Wall Project.
Lawal said: “The nation’s wealth is threatened through the forest from oil theft, illegal mining activities and slowing the Great Green Wall Project of controlling desertification.
”The government in support of the president are working on measures to get security forces, forest guards to flush them out, while ensuring communities engagement, and international collaboration.”
Lawal said the retreat was necessary to collectively brainstorm on strategies to address pressing issues with regards to the operations of the Ministry now and in the coming years.
“We have signed a performance bond with Mr. President on 18-point deliverables in the priority areas that relate to our mandates so, most of our deliberations would be centered around the deliverables which is also in line with the 8- points Agenda of this Administration.”
The minister urged all the participants to put into use the knowledge acquired at the retreat while carrying out their duties.
Dr Iniobong Aweh, Director, Department of Climate Change, said the retreat was for the stakeholders to sit together and chart a way forward to achieve the 18-point deliverables given to the ministers.
Aweh said the participants at the retreat were drawn from across the environmental sector as well as other sectors of the economy that align with the sector.
“It is, therefore, expected that the outcome of the retreat will form the basis of the development of the deliverables, which will guide other reforms the ministers have for the sector,” she added.
By Ezra Musa
