Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano has said the seriousness of climate change and environmental degradation in Nigeria have made it necessary for the foundation to redouble its efforts.
He said scientific reports from the United Nations and other international agencies showed that climate change and the decline in nature have reached the point where they threaten human existence.
Dr Muhtari, in a statement by the foundation’s head of communication Oladapo Soneye, spoke at a fundraising dinner themed ‘Restoring Mother Nature: New Deal for Nature and People’ in Lagos.
He said: “This is more so in Nigeria where awareness of environmental issues is quite low and where these issues rank low in priority in our private and national lives. Hence, the essence of our gathering to deliberate and raise funds to raise the bar in the conservation promotion.”
The president, Board of Trustees, NCF, Izoma Philip Asiodu, said Nigeria is losing its forest at a fast rate. “The savannah is disappearing, mangroves are being cleared, and pollution is everywhere,” he said.
The dinner was attended by Minister (State) of Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor; member, National Assembly, Hon. Samuel Onuigbo; DMD of Total E&P Ltd, Engr. Musa Ahmadu-Kida; National Executive Council members of NCF and representative of WWF, Mr. Seif Hamisi, among others.