At a brief ceremony at the ministry’s Mabushi head offices in Abuja on Thursday, April 7, 2022, the new Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, formally resumed office.
The ceremony had in attendance the Environment Minister of State, Sharon Ikeazor, and the ministry’s Management Team. Ikeazor, who had been head of the ministry in acting capacity, officially handed over to Abdullahi.
“It was with all sense of responsibility and commitment that, today, on the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Government of Nigeria, I resume duties today as the Honourable Minister at the Federal Ministry of Environment with the Honourable Minister of State, Sharon Ikeazor, in a brief ceremony. It was a smooth process that has all the Management Team (members) in attendance,” Abdullahi said in a Tweet on Thursday.
Abdullahi, a lawyer, was until his appointment on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation.
President Muhammadu Buhari had approved his immediate re-deployment as the new Minister of Environment and, according to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Boss Mustapha, the development took effect from Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
“The President hopes that he would bring his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment for the growth of the country,” a statement from the SGF’s office said.
Ikeazor, also a lawyer, politician and management consultant, was until her appointment as the Minister of State for Environment in August 2019, the executive secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).
Ikeazor on Thursday advised all the staff of the ministry to support Abdullahi to achieve mandates and objectives.
The minister explained some of the mandates, mission and vision of the ministry, adding that the staff and agencies under the ministry have really supported to ensure effective implementation of the ministry`s projects.
She also urged the agencies, departments and the entire members of staff of the ministry to support the incoming minister, adding that their commitment would enhance the effective service delivery of the ministry.
“The staff is all well dedicated, the same support you have given me, you will please give to him, so that we will be able to achieve our mandates.
“We are working so hard to ensure that we implement our projects rightly; we are seriously working on the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (YPREP), which is Ogoni clean-up.
“Also, we are working on erosion and flood control, climate change which is the major achievement, having the climate change Act and the implementation of it.
“We all know that climate change is a serious issue, it’s all about life and future of our people.
“We are glad that the ministry has work so hard with the support of the President and his cabinet to give passage to most of our policies and the guidelines.
“We have prepared the handover note which contains the activities of the ministry, meanwhile our major policy is mitigating climate change and the impacts, sustainable environmental governance and sustainable waste management, among others,’’ she said.
Ikeazor said that the ministry was working hard by supporting Mr President towards the commitment he made at UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021.
She advised the staff and agencies under the ministry to continue to be committed and show more support to ensure that the ministry implement its projects and prgrommes.
Abdullahi, while receiving the handover note from Ikeazor, said that he was impressed with the support and dedication by all the staff, adding that such would enhance the activities of the ministry.
According to him, “this is a big ceremony, I understand that programmes are ongoing, which I will not want to disturb rather to basically compliment the effort which the ministry has already done so far.
“In terms of policies and objectives and other relevant issues of the ministry such as erosion, climate change, among others, we will see how we can move forward and ensure we deliver the mandates.
“I will carefully go through the handover note and then if there is any question, I will definitely need attention to highlight more on such,’’ he said.
He, however, appreciated Ikeazor, heads of the department and other management staff for their effort to ensure effective service delivery.
He as well encouraged the staff to continue working in harmony and oneness.
