Minister Advocates
Minister Advocates for Environmental Studies
Institute
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon
Ikeazor has expressed support for the establishment of a National
Institute of Environmental Studies that would provide the necessary
expertise for certification of practitioners as well as the
provision of the much-needed manpower to address various
environmental challenges in the country.
Ikeazor made this commitment when the National President of the
Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Dr. Dorothy Bassey and her
Team paid a courtesy visit to her office.
According to the Minister, the establishment of such an
institute has become necessary in order to streamline the practice
of environmental scientists and enthusiasts in the sector, and the
need for certification and competency in handling the various
aspects of climate change, the ecosystems and the environment as a
whole.
Speaking further, Ikeazor assured NES President of the
ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the Society in the
protection and conservation of the environment, implementation of
the recently approved National Solid Waste Management Policy, the
National Forestry Policy and the National Gender Action Plan on
Climate Change.
Stressing that “The National Gender Action Plan on Climate
Change is to mainstream gender into Climate Change Action that
would further create jobs for women, youths and other vulnerable
Nigerians”, the Minister emphasized.
Ikeazor stated that as part of environmental remediation, the
Federal Government is committed to Mangroves restoration and
protection across the country. She called for expertise and
collaboration from the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) to
further deepen the knowledge and the creation of awareness among
Nigerians on the numerous benefits to life sustenance and the
ecosystems.
She decried the situation where Nigeria with about 11,600sq k of
coastline, spanning from Bakkasi peninsular in Cross River State to
Badagry in Lagos State do not have 1% of Marine Protected
Areas.
“That is why the Ministry is planning to roll out a National
Mangrove Restoration Plan as it avails the country several benefits
in terms of controlling coastal erosion, serve in the restoration
of polluted areas and protect marine animals that provide a
livelihood to the people” the Minister added.
Enumerating the actions taken by the Ministry on environmental
protection, Ikeazor disclosed that the ministry is in the middle of
amending the NOSDRA Act, saying that in the amendment that is being
put together, the National Environmental Society has been listed as
a Member of the NOSDRA Board.
She promised to renew her earlier appeal at the appropriate time
to Mr President, which she made upon her assumption of duty, to
grant assent to the NOSDRAS Act, saying that as the environmental
regulator of oil and gas activities in the country, NOSDRA requires
all the legal and administrative backing to operate
successfully.
‘‘What we have in the Ogoni clean-up today is lack of regulation
and environment assessment of oil exploration in Nigeria, with an
amended bill, NOSDRA will be well equipped to check such excess and
protect our environment’’, she opined.
The Minister added that environmental degradation in the Niger
Delta, especially the Port Harcourt soot, the Artisanal refining
and the ‘kpo-fire’, are all as a result of inadequate regulations
and non-compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment.
Intimating the Minister on the purpose of the visit, the
President of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Dr Dorothy
Bassey, stated that the visit was in pursuance of the society
resolve to intimate the Ministry of their activities, seek an
avenue for partnership and collaboration in the protection of the
environment and advocacy, as well as to serve as a vehicle to
disseminate the ministry’s messages and policies to the grassroots
and get the necessary feedback.
She pointed out that NES is foremost environmental body in Nigeria
created in 1985 with presence in 26 states of the Federation and
their activities are geared towards development and protection of
the environment.
Dr Bassey solicited for the support of the Minister and other
stakeholders to facilitate the passage of the bill establishing the
National Environmental Institute into law.
In her words, ‘’we as a group have over the years sponsored the
bill to establish a National Environmental Institute of Nigeria in
the National Assembly without success. We recently represented it
for consideration’’.
The bill according to the President of NES, is to ensure that only
those with requisite skills and expertise should be allowed to take
part in Environmental issues and consultancy.
The Permanent Secretary, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan in his remarks,
commended the Society for taking interest in the ministry’s
activities and their commitment to environmental issues and
welcomes the offer for partnership.
‘’I can only assure you that the ministry is ready and desirous of
partnering with a serious, credible and well-organised entity,
society and groups to drive the agenda of making our environment
more conducive and sustainable in line with the socio-political
mandates of this administration and other levels,’’ he
emphasized.
Saghir el Mohammed
Director Press
Federal Ministry of Environment