We’ve repositioned environment sector for good,  says Ikeazor

 

.Commends Buhari for signing Climate Change Bill into law.

 

Minister of state for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor yesterday hinted that, in line with the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives on sector reformation, her office has repositioned the environment sector for efficiency and effectiveness.

 

This is as the minister commended the President for signing the climate change bill passed by the national assembly in to law.

 

The minister who gave the account of her activities at the ministry at the Ministerial Briefing of the Environment Sector and Priority Area of the Ministry in Abuja Monday, said her administration has made tremendous progress in areas of infrastructure and human development that has turned the sector around for good.

 

Ikeazor scored self high, saying a lot of development activities has taken place in environment sector since her assumption in the office as the minister of the ministry.

 

The minister said her administration has modalities in place to implement policies that are parts of the mandate of the ministry, maintaining the for the target of the administration to be fully met, the relevant stakeholders must play vital roles.

 

According to the minister, the priority areas to deliver in the ongoing reformation in the sector included the cleaning up of Ogoni land.

 

She said; “On the instance of the Federal Government of Nigeria, UNEP conducted an independent assessment of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland, in 2006.

 

“The Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland UNEP report was submitted to Federal Government of Nigeria in 2011. The cleanup of Ogoniland was flagged off by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2016. The Governing Council and Board of Trustees of HYPREP (for the management of Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland) were inaugurated in August 2016 and the Project Coordinator’s office was established in 2017.

 

“The Ministry is accelerating the remediation project, expanding on the livelihood program of the hydrocarbon impacted communities. Preliminary remediation activities had commenced in early 2018, and work is at various stages of the remediation processes, with successes despite delays encountered.

 

“The Project implementation status is between 2019-2021 and covers three (3) core areas, which are contaminated soil remediation, sustainable livelihood programme and portable water supply.

 

“1.In 2019 contracts for 21 lots were awarded for remediation, these covered 12 of the 65 listed sites in the UNEP report. These lots covered an area of 276 acres. To date 18 of these lots have been completed and certified by NOSDRA. 3 of the lots are currently undergoing certification process and one lot is still undergoing remediation.

 

Continuing on the effort of the ministry so far, the minister said; “an additional 29 lots were awarded for remediation of 8 sites in February 2020. The area covered is 289 acres. Six of these sites have been completed and certified by NOSDRA while two outstanding sites at Bdere and Ogale are above 60% completion of which we are accelerating

 

“As of January 2022 bidding for additional 37 hydrocarbon impacted sites is in progress. Total volume of contaminated soil to be remediated is 5,354,766 cubic meters over an area of about 314 acres.

 

“The impacts of the remediation effort have produced remarkable employment and livelihood opportunities among Ogoni youths. So far, a total of one thousand three hundred and thirty-seven (1,337) persons have been trained, employed, and earned income to support their livelihood, thereby enhancing local economy.

Livelihood Support Status:

 

“Alternative livelihood development for Ogoni Youths, Women and able Men as well as physically challenged is also a key activity recommended in the UNEP report. Both artisanal refiners and other youths are entitled to be given the opportunity to develop and expand their existing skills or acquire new skill sets to build their capacity and empowerment.

 

” In 2020, a set of 400 women commenced training by UNITAR in agribusiness at Songhai Farms in the areas of aquaculture, poultry, cropping and food processing. The plan is to train total of 1,200 women in agribusiness.

Needs Assessment forms were distributed to 5000 youths in December 2021, to capture the choice skill sets of Ogoni Youths, Women and able Men as well as physically challenged people. These Needs Assessment forms are targeted at the artisanal refiners to provide them with alternative livelihoods through acquisition of new skillsets.

500 community youths will be employed as local security at various HYPREP sites in Ogoni land.

 

“In line with the UNEP recommendations our drive to accelerate the provision of potable water to hydrocarbon impacted communities in Ogoniland is gradually achieving results.

In May 2021, contractors were mobilized to six (6) sites in Alesa Eleme, Ebubu and Nsisioken, Terrabo, Gokana, Barako/B-Dere/K-Dere, and have achieved significant progress.

 

“The communities in Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area, are now enjoying the provision of potable water supply.

The process to procure additional 14 water projects to cover other communities in Ogoniland is undergoing procurement process.

The procurement process for the design of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration along with an Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre has begun in line with UNEP recommendation.

 

“Climate change is staring everyone in the face and actions to handle its impacts have become far more critical now than before. In the World Climate Change Vulnerability Index Nigeria is classified as one of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world. This poses a serious threat to poverty eradication and sustainable development in general. This is because the country has a large rural population that lives on climate-sensitive economic and development sectors (agriculture and fisheries) and natural resources (such as water, biodiversity, grassland). The cost of not addressing climate change or not adapting to it is very high and certainly the social consequences are enormous”.

 

The minister said her team have made significant strides in the area of climate change adaptation by developing a National Adaptation Communication (ADCOM) document, which provides a mechanism for Nigeria to report “priorities, implementation and support needs, plans and actions.

 

She continued; ” also a National Adaptation Plan Framework to help with adaptation planning and governance.

The most critical step we have taken towards playing our role in climate change mitigation and adaptation is the realization of the Climate Change Act, in November 2021. The Act provides for the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change, which will have the powers of policymaking and decisions on all matters related to climate change in Nigeria.

 

“Nigeria’s Climate Change law provides a legal framework for Nigeria’s efforts at Climate Change mitigation and adaptation in an overarching manner and has as part of its provisions the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change to be chaired by Mr. President.

 

“Furthermore, the Act establishes the Climate Change Fund which will help Nigeria address issues of adaptation, loss and damage, innovations to reduce GHG emissions, development of technology for renewable energy and transition to a green economy, etc. As part of efforts to ensure that the country meets its target of attaining net zero by 2060, the Act provides for the phenomenon of carbon budgeting which will be set in a five-yearly cycle with annual targets assigned to private and public entities, with the Council imbued with the powers to monitor and ensure that set budgets and targets are met as at when due. Also, since one of the country’s greatest means of balancing emissions is the provision of carbon sinks and biodiversity preservation, the Act makes a case for the exploration of nature-based solutions.

 

“Amongst these solutions is the establishment of the UN-backed Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) registry. The REDD+ programme is currently being run under the department of forestry”.

 

Ikeazor who said Nigeria has developed an energy transition plan which shows a detailed roadmap for Nigeria to achieve both SDG 7 by 2030 and Net Zero by 2060, noted that “this roadmap highlights the scale of the effort required for a developing nation to achieve net zero including the scale of financing, renewables to be deployed and the importance of transition fuels”.

 

” To meet our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target and fast track our low carbon development pledges to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Nigerian Sovereign Green Bond was issued in line with our Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).

 

“These Green Bonds are used in financing environmentally friendly projects through debts tied to sustainability targets.

 

“In collaboration with the Energy Commission of Nigeria through the support and expertise of the UK government, we launched the Nigeria Energy Calculator, as a tool for generating evidence to support intelligent policy making around energy and climate change.

In December 2021, We launched the Deep Decarbonization project with the support of the French Development agency (AFD). This project is a National research and capacity development project for the implementation of a Deep Decarbonisation pathway program for Nigeria”, she said.

 

Speaking further on the intervention of the ministry, she said; ” another priority area is erosion and flood Control. Soil erosion and degradation represent some of the most serious environmental and health problems facing us today in Nigeria.

 

“The Federal Ministry of Environment has been implementing programmes and projects aimed at preventing and controlling land degradation arising from inland soil erosion, flooding, coastal and riverbank erosion throughout the Federation.

 

“The Ministry since inception executed over 2,000 erosion and flood control projects and other smart climate related ecological interventions in various states.

 

“Our flagship program, NEWMAP was born by the Department of Erosion and Flood Control as an initiative to solving the astronomical ecological challenges and dwindling funding of erosion projects in the Ministry. NEWMAP is a World Bank funded project that adopts the Integrated Watershed Management Approach, aimed at addressing the menace of gully erosion and other forms of land degradation with the objective to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion.

 

“Under NEWMAP, 56 sites completed; 23,829 hectares of degraded land reclaimed, 75 erosion sites reduced in severity, surpassed target of 55 sites, 25,491 households directly benefitted from Project, and Storm-water Master plans developed.

 

“The Federal Ministry of Environment installed Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) geared towards effective environmental governance for adequate nationwide flood forecasting and to provide flood warning in advance to reduce flood disaster impact and ensure prompt response to impending floods.

 

“The Ministry is carrying out the FEWS program in synergy and collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and other stakeholders.

We have established a web based flood early warning systems (FEWS) showing 307 locations across Nigeria.

 

Installed 17 community based FEWS stations nationwide in Ondo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Osun, Lagos, Jigawa, Sokoto and Oyo states.

• Installed 17 automated Flood Early Warning Systems along- Ogun, Ondo and Benin Owena River Basin, Sokoto Rima, Upper Benue and Anambra-Imo River Basin.

 

“The Ministry is also collaborating with other MDAs on the proposed Soil Erosion and Flood Control Project at Ayetoro community of Ilaje Local Government Area in Ondo state.

 

“The preliminary design has been completed and ready for consideration and implementation. This would provide a long lasting solution to ocean incursion in Ayetoro community and its environs.

 

“In the area of Circular Economy, the Ministry has taken proactive measures to promote, institutionalize, entrench, and mainstream circular economy principles and practices into our development plans. Nigeria’s Circular Economy potentials can be seen in its large and thriving Waste Management Sector that attracts operators due to the high volume of wastes and demand for recycled materials.

 

“The Ministry established a Nigeria Circular Economy Programme (NCEP) which provides a framework for circular solutions and circular business models.

In demonstrating circular economy principles and practices, as well as environmentally sound management of waste, the Ministry, constructed and commissioned several waste recycling facilities. These include plastic recycling plant in Karu, Nasarawa State (2019), plastic recycling plant in Lokoja (2020) and a scrap metal recycling plant in Emouha, Rivers State (2020). All these plants were handed over to the communities.

 

” Development of other recycling plants is in progress in FCT, Imo, Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Anambra, Ondo, Abia, and Kaduna States. These projects will attract private sector participation and investment including Foreign Direct

 

“Investment in waste management/ Circular economy, create direct and indirect employment and empower the most vulnerable in the society particularly youth and women.

 

“Two policies, namely, the National Policy on Solid Waste Management and National Policy on Plastic Waste Management were approved by the Federal Executive Council in June 2020. The Ministry, with support from our development partners is operationalizing and cascading the policies to the sub-nationals.

 

“With the support of the Government of Japan and in collaboration with UNIDO, the Ministry would be implementing the project “Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chain” through Circular Economy practices in Lagos and the FCT. This project would promote the integration of Circular Economy principles and practices into plastic waste management, strengthen plastic value chains, and demonstrate the benefits of adopting circular economy practices and resource efficient production of plastic value chains in Nigeria.

 

“In 2021, Nigeria became a member Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP). The GPAP provides a platform for Government, Private Sector, Regional Bodies, International Organizations, Civil society Organizations, etc., to work together to champion a shift towards a new plastics economy by addressing the root causes of plastic pollution from production to consumption and re-use. The GPAP is being domesticated into Nigeria’s National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) to support Nigeria’s Circular Economy initiatives.

Marine Pollution; In tackling plastic pollution in our oceans and waterbodies, the Ministry in collaboration with the World Bank is implementing the ProBlue project: Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution and Creating Plastics Recycling Markets in Lagos State with the objective to develop an improved knowledge base and increased capacity for Lagos State to reduce Marine Plastic Pollution by promoting Sustainable Plastic Waste Management.

 

” This project will be replicated in all the coastal states of the country after the pilot in Lagos”, she maintained.

 

The minister further noted that protecting, restoring and sustainably managing Nigeria’s ecosystems could provide more than a third of the climate change mitigation solutions, while appreciating the President for signing the Climate change bill into law.

 

She said the Ministry will continue to strive in achieving the set mandates despite all challenges while repositioning her agencies for effective implementation of policies, regulations and projects.