By Ruth Orji
The 17th National Council on Environment meeting, which was held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja has ended today.
The Council is Nigeria’s highest policy making body of the environment sector saddled with the responsibilities of deliberating and guiding consultations on environment issues.
The 3-day program which commenced, Monday, April 22nd-24th, 2024 was part of activities marking this year’s Earth Day.
In his welcome address, the Minister of State for Environment, Ishaq Salako reiterated on the need to adopt nature based solutions, to address climate change crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution in Nigeria.
Stating that the world is facing climate emergency, that requires bold and ambitious actions from all leaders while urging environment stakeholders to engage strategic partnership and explore innovative ways of funding climate actions in the country.
As part of efforts in seeking lasting solution to the environmental degradation in Anambra state, the Solution government ably led by Prof.Charles Chukwuma Soludo from inception of his administration, declared emergency on the environment sector which serves as a prompter to planting of one million trees as well as massive desilting of gutters and waterways in the hinterland to mitigate the erosion menace ravaging the state and promoting environmental sustainability.
The Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Anambra State, Engr. Dr. Felix Odimegwu who attended the council’s meeting in Abuja seeks for more of federal and international presence that will help bring the erosion endemic to its barest minimum in the state.
“Like you all know, Anambra is currently the erosion capital of Africa, the challenge is humongous that the state finances cannot carry it, we are talking about 1000 active erosion sites with new ones still emerging”
He however, call for more of global solidarity and partnership, international funding agencies to assist the state and save it’s environment, he stated.
More so, this year’s meeting which was themed: “Environmental Financing: Need to mobilise more windows for generating adequate resources in support of environmental sustainability efforts”,
Contributing, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari during the technical session, identified the need to mobilise more windows for generating adequate resources in support of environmental sustainability efforts.
Mahmud noted that the meeting will help to reflect on the pivotal role of environmental stewardship in shaping Nigeria’s future.
The meeting witnessed large turnout of environmental enthusiast, NGO’s and experts.
