Score card: Minister reiterates government determination to tackle climate change

The minister who was presenting the ministry’s score card to Nigerians listed some of the projects instituted to cushion the impact to include the remediation of over 1,690 oil spill sites nationwide, 157 erosion and flood control projects going on across the country most of which had attained 60 per cent completion in the south east, installation of Web based flood early warning system (FEWS) to forecast flood incidences for major cities in the country with five days lead time and the launch of the Great Green Wall (GGW) programme introduced to fight desertification in the 11 frontline states.
According to her, the remediation project was in response to the persistent environmental degradation and devastation of the coastal ecosystem, especially in the Niger -Delta region even as the ministry redoubled its effort towards reducing the incidents of the oil spill.
Mallam said that the GGW was to emphasise the importance of tree planting in the frontline states that are already being impacted by climate change in forms of drought and desertification.
According to Mallam, over 2.8billion seedlings for forestry and orchards was procured and planted in the frontline states to increase the vegetation cover.
She reveals that the programme brought about the establishment of 252 km of shelterbelt, 113.5 Ha orchard plantation and 53 Ha woodlot and also provided job for 1346 people who are engaged in tree planting and 304 forest guards were trained too.
Another highlight of the ministry’s achievement according to the minister was in the area of renewable energy programme which seeks to fight environmental unfriendly energy methods and introduce more friendly and clean method to achieve a clean and healthy environment.
In the area of articulation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and guidelines, she said the ministry has recorded tremendous achievement with the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Mallam stated that in an effort to provide effective and efficient administrative framework for environmental management, her ministry has 346 projects registered for EIA and an EIA registry for public information established in the year under review.
She added that 755 Environmental Compliance Monitoring and inspection were conducted and 343 environmental permits were issued out.
In the aspect of ensuring environmental awareness the ministry has engaged stakeholders from different sectors to help in public awareness through several meetings and participation in summit to sustain the environment in line with global best practices, said Mallam.
She added that the ministry is also empowering the people by providing them with facilities and materials that are environmentally friendly to help them in protecting their environment.
“Small grants programme is ongoing in 123 communities in the country in ensuring environmental awareness,” she said.
The minister concluded that environmental sustainability is the key to national socio-economic development and thus the responsibility of all to take care of the environment by protecting it and everything that lives in it.