Otunba Leke Emmanuel, Chairman of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), has called on the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on land restoration in Nigeria.
He said this during the celebration of this year’s World Environment Day in Abuja.
“Though, in an attempt to hold land degradation, Federal Government has pledged to restore 4million hectares of lands within its borders by 2030.
“It is our sincere hope that the country will achieve this goals within this time frame.”
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While calling on the Federal Government to gear up towards its promise to ensure that by 2030 it would restore the 4million hectares, Orunba Leke urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the government to truly achieve the goal.
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience, dedicated to
communities whose lands and livelihoods have been devastated by extractivism and pollution.
While welcoming participants, chairman planning Committee for the FCT Chapter of the Nigeria Environmental Society, Sani Adamu, urged Nigerians to reflect on their responsibilities to nature, the environment, and all living beings, and to cease predatory and destructive practices.
He stressed that urgent steps are needed to halt deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, warning that without serious climate action, humanity will continue to suffer from multiple crises.
“This year’s World Environment Day provides a template for socioeconomic and environmental re-examination and action,” he said.
Adamu pointed out that parts of Nigeria, are severely affected by environmental degradation, water stress, and drought. Desertification and other ecological problems are particularly pressing issues in Nigeria.
“As we celebrate World Environment Day, we remind ourselves of the destructive activities, especially resource extraction and poor land-use changes, that have plagued our environment,” he said.
Prof. Samaila Kunden Ishaya, lecturer at the University of Nasarawa State who delivered a keynote lecture on Land Restoration for Sustainable Management, stressed the importance of ensuring that communities are fully informed, consulted, and their consent obtained before any projects impacting the environment are designed or implemented.
He highlighted that land restoration is key to sustainable management of land.
“It is important in revert our land to its natural state so that humans can fall back to this Important resources to meet their needs while affording opportunities for future. We should transformatively change our policies and choices to live sustainably in harmony with nature, fully understanding that the planet is our only home and that her resources are finite,” he concluded
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