FG to use Jathropha to fight desertification, reduce emission

The Federal Government will create green economy using Jatropha for the successful production of a viable green alternative to fossil fuels to combat desertification.
Speaking yesterday at the first Environmental Dialogue, with the theme, Diversification of the Economy – The Role of Jathrophathe, Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, said the world is gradually moving away from use of fossil fuel in order to cut down emissions and Nigeria cannot stand aloof.
She said considering the environmental challenges identified by the administration, there was no doubt that the consideration of Jathropha plant could be a leeway out of the challenges. While strategising and looking towards providing alternative renewable sources of energy, she said, it would serve as a great opportunity to empower the people, take urgent climate change action and protect the environment.
The ministry, according to her, would be working within the framework that is being set by the Ministry of Agriculture for the diversification of the economy.  “We are going to reduce emissions, reclaim our desert and by adding value, we can choose a number of trees and shrubs that we can do that with and we also want to see the economic value in it by giving jobs and gets into a value chain that can produce returns for those who have a job,” she said.
The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, told journalists earlier that the project would empower people, fight desertification and reduce poverty in rural areas.
It would also provide additional means of livelihoods for local communities losing ground water and vegetation due to deforestation, he added.
“The approach will lead to rapid creation of a new green economy in the rural areas thereby creating jobs and wealth from the cultivation of Jatropha and its value chain,” he said.
He pointed out that Jatropha was identified by the Nigerian bio-fuel policy and incentives in 2007 as the most preferred non-food plant for bio-fuel feedstock for production in the country.
While noting that Jatropha had potential to impact on the five-key elements of the COP 21 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, he said that the result would lead to establishment of African clean energy hub in Nigeria.
The project, to be spearheaded by the ministry of environment, the minister said, was proposed with the support of local and international experts to ensure that it met international sustainability protocols, adding its success largely depended on the support of federal and state governments.