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Environment Minister Says Swift and Decisive Actions Required to Mitigate Climate Change
Environment Minister Says Swift and Decisive Actions Required to Mitigate Climate Change
By: Michael Mike
Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal has said swift and decisive actions are needed to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
The Minister made the statement on Wednesday while delivering a speech at the 17th meeting of the Council of Environment in Abuja.
He decried that: “Climate change is threatening ecosystems, livelihoods, and biodiversity, environmental degradation disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, exacerbating inequalities and perpetuating social injustices.”
Lawal said: “We must redouble our efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, embrace renewable energy solutions, and foster sustainable practices across all sectors.
“Mobilising more financial inflow for environmental sustainability is essential because it allows for the allocation of resources towards projects and initiatives aimed at protecting and preserving the environment.
“As we are all aware, environment financing is capital intensive, to mobilise more financial inflow for environmental sustainability there is the need to implore innovative financing mechanisms, such as Green Bonds, Carbon Pricing, and Public-Private Partnerships,” noting that this will help in generating the resources needed for effective environmental protection and conservation efforts.
The Minister added: “I therefore urge members of this council to intensify exploration and implementation of financing mechanisms at their disposal.
“As we convene amidst pressing global challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss, our duty as custodians of the environment has never been more paramount.
“Each decision we make within these walls reverberates far beyond, shaping the health and sustainability of our planet for generations to come.”
“Our nation stands at a critical juncture, where the urgency to act boldly on environmental issues is undeniable. As guardians of biodiversity, we must safeguard our precious ecosystems from degradation and exploitation,” he urged.
On his part, Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, in an address of welcome stated that the need to galvanise more financial windows for environmental sustainability efforts is not just an aspiration but a commitment that would define our era.
He said: “In our drive to build a sustainable future for our generation and the ones yet unborn, mobilising funding for climate and environmental actions is a core imperative.
“In doing this, we need to emphasis our areas of comparative advantages and present such to the global community as our contribution to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
“The global north who are the greatest contributor to the environmental challenges being faced by the world is offering us all kinds of technologies, some of them controversial as the solution to the crisis.”
He tasked stakeholders not to loose touch with nature based solutions that offers natural advantages and possess a higher potential to reduce capital flight and improve the livelihoods of the people.
He noted that: “The Federal Ministry of Environment at COP 28 in Dubai December 2023 championed and launched the Ministerial Alliance for Ambition on Nature Finance.
Salako stressed that the launch was to give Nigeria a voice to prompt an ambition on biodiversity finance in global south countries like Nigeria where most of the biodiversity performing critical ecosystem services for the entire world is located.
He said: “As the developed world comes around with their technologies and carbon credit schemes where they almost exclusively determine the pricing, let us also put forward our rich biodiversity worth trillion of dollars.
“Let us remain dedicated to the cause of environmental sustainability in the firm conviction that our collective efforts can pave the way for a healthier and cleaner planet earth.”
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Mr Koffy Kouacou Dominque, on his part, noted that FAO is committed to supporting government at all levels to enhance sustainable natural resources management.
Dominque who was represented by one of the senior staff in the FAO, Nigeria’s office, Tofiq Braimah, said that the organisation’s area of supports are to implement, monitor and report climate commitments outlined in the National Determined Contribution document.
He assured FAO’s continuous support to access climate finance, partnership and technical support to mainstreaming agrifood systems to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPS), among others.
He however noted that our environment is under increasing pressure from climate change, deforestation, pollution, and other threats that require urgent attention and collaborative action.
Environment Minister Says Swift and Decisive Actions Required to Mitigate Climate Change
Zulum Bags NUJ’s 2024 Good Governance Award on Education
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has won the Nigerian Union of Journalists’ Good Governance Award 2024 on education.
At the event, which was tagged “NUJ Press Freedom and Governance Award”, 18 journalists and public servants who have distinguished themselves in their careers were honoured.
Presenting the award to Zulum, at an event held at Barcelona Hotel, Abuja, on Saturday, the National President of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, noted that the award was in recognition of Governor Zulum’s laudable achievements in the development of the educational sector and good governance he has provided for the people of Borno.
According to the NUJ President, Zulum has over the years, embarked on innovative intervention and aggressive investment in the education sector of Borno State
The statement said Zulum has since 2019 executed 124 projects in the education sector, including the construction of over 30 new mega schools and the rehabilitation of 1,087 classrooms in several schools across the state.
Zulum has recruited over 4,000 new teachers, deployed strategies to reduce out-of-school children from 2 million children to 800,000 in 2024 and has approved over N4 billion as scholarship for local and foreign education to Borno indigenes.
Responding after receiving the award, Zulum, who was represented by the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, expressed appreciation to the organisers for finding him worthy of the award.
He said: ” It is amazing to be rewarded for managing a crisis and rebuilding a state like Borno State, which is coming out of a decade-long violent insurgency. The Borno restoration project focuses on bold and sustained investment in all sectors of society.
“Press Freedom constitutes an important booster of the Building Borno Back and Better initiative. In Borno State, journalists are granted free space and access to information to carry out their duties and write stories that will enlighten society and influence public policy,” Zulum said.
The event was attended by the Governor of Benue State, Rev Hyacinth Alia, the Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas was represented by Chairman House Committee on Information and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
Also present are Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission Abuja, Ms Gill Lever, DG VON; Mr Bernabas Gemade and Major Gen Lawrence Onoja.
Zulum Bags NUJ’s 2024 Good Governance Award on Education
Gaza: 155,000 Pregnant Women Struggling to Survive- Says Palestine Envoy
By: Michael Mike
Ambassador of Palestine to Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh has drawn global attention to emerging humanitarian crisis in war torn Gaza, stating that around 155,000 pregnant women and new mothers are struggling to survive.
He said: “They are suffering from hunger and the diseases that stalk it, amid life-threatening shortages of food, water and medical care …. Only three maternity hospitals remain in the Gaza Strip, and they are overwhelmed with patients.
“Doctors and midwives … are struggling to provide adequate care to newborns.”
Addressing a press conference at the weekend on the situation in Gaza, Shawesh lamented that mass graves continued to be discovered on Gaza Strip, with the war currently leaving an estimated 37 million tons of debris and unexploded ordnance.
He decried that as it stands, the war is projected could take 14 years to clear the unexploded ordnance and rubble.
Shawesh said: “As of May 1, the number of Palestinian martyrs has reached 34,535, with 77,704 wounded, in addition to thousands of others who are still missing under the rubble or subjected to enforced disappearance in Israeli occupation detention centers.”
He alleged that “Palestinian detainees are subjected to harsh measures, receiving minimal sustenance such as a single slice of bread and a small amount of food to merely sustain their lives and prevent death, resulting in substantial weight loss and serious health consequences.”
“Around 155,000 pregnant women and new mothers are struggling to survive. They are suffering from hunger and the diseases that stalk it, amid life-threatening shortages of food, water and medical care …. Only three maternity hospitals remain in the Gaza Strip, and they are overwhelmed with patients.
He noted that: “The Palestinian Minister of Transport, Tariq Zourub, declared that the losses of the transportation sector in the Gaza Strip exceeded 3 billion dollars. The occupation destroyed about 945 km of roads and 55,000 vehicles, which is equivalent to 65% of the road network and 60% of the vehicles licensed in the strip.
Day after day, Israeli crimes in Gaza are revealed, and every day we witness a new chapter of genocidal crimes.”
He added that: “Recently, many mass graves were discovered in the Al-Shifa Medical Complex and the Nasser Medical Complex in the Gaza Strip, which contain hundreds of dead bodies.”
Gaza: 155,000 Pregnant Women Struggling to Survive- Says Palestine Envoy
Senator Lawan commends Tinubu on the salary increase for workers
By: Yahaya Wakili
President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON, Sardaunan Bade, commends President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for giving his approval to a salary increase of between 25 and 35 percent for civil servants on the six consolidated salary structures.
Senator Lawan disclosed this in a press statement signed by Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, FAI, FIMC, FCP, and Fsca Media Adviser to Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, which was shared with newsmen in Damaturu.
Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, in a statement to celebrate International Workers Day, also tasks the federal government with upholding the rights and dignity of workers.
The lawmaker who represents Yobe North Senatorial District further underscores the need for the government to work in solidarity with workers and prioritize their demands for fair treatment and equal opportunities.
The statement by the former Senate President reads, I join the millions of our workers in celebrating this year’s International Workers Day. This day is dedicated to honoring the contributions and achievements of working people everywhere and reflecting on the ongoing struggle for worker rights and justice.
The president of the 9th Senate revealed that, in the face of the prevalent economic challenges, it is more important than ever to stand in solidarity with our workers and support their demands for fair treatment and equal opportunities.
“On this International Workers Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the dignity and rights of our workers and continue to work towards a future where they can thrive and succeed.
“Let me also seize the occasion to commend President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his approval of a salary increase for civil servants. By approving a pay raise, the president has shown how passionate he is about improving the well-being and livelihoods of our workers.
I applaud President Tinubu for recognizing the importance of fair compensation for civil servants and for taking proactive steps to address this issue. I believe that this decision will help to boost morale, motivation, and productivity amongst our workers, ultimately leading to better service delivery for the benefit of all citizens.
Senator Lawan commends Tinubu on the salary increase for workers
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