(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Hadiza-Ibrahim-Mailafia-300x224.jpg) The Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia has said that the Federal Ministry of Environment has established 55 hectares of community woodlots in Kano, 15 hectares in Cross River, 10hectres in Plateau, 10 hectres in Kogi, 10 hectares in Katsina and 20 hectres in Ogun States in 2012 as part of forest management strategies.
Hadiza Mailafia made the disclosure at the ongoing 2013 Ministerial Platform for the Federal Ministry of Environment which held at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja on Friday, June 14, 2013. the Minister added that a Green Village Project was developed in Jiddel, Adamawa State in 2012 and 10 hectares of degraded forest reserves rehabilitated in Niger and Borno States.
She further said that efforts have been made to ensure environmental awareness and restoration of erosion sites as well a Presidential visit to flood affected sites in Kogi State.
The Minister explained that the Ministry has developed a management plan for the Omo (J4 ) Forest Reserve in Ogun State spanning 139,100 hectares, established 30 hectares of sample plots in Kano, 5 hectares in Borno, 5 hectares in Plateau, 5 hectares in Kogi, 5 hectares in Cross River and 5 hectares in Ogun State, for forest reserve operations.
(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/env.jpg)Mailafia further revealed that "The Ministry has registered 366 Environmental Health Officers and presently 50 schools are being retrofitted in Borno State in partnership with the Borno State Government. Provision is being made for the mitigation of climate change through roof top rainwater harvesting infrastructure in Pella, Adamawa State, Bidir in Bauchi State and Doho in Gombe State"; she explained.
On environmental impact assessment and regulation, the Minister reiterated that approval has been granted for the National Policy on Climate Change ; adding that a new environmental guidelines and standards have been developed for quarrying and blasting operations in the country.
While also speaking on the occurrence of environmental offences, she noted that 3,900 compliance inspections was conducted, saying environmental permits were issued and new state offices established. She pointed out that advocacy and awareness campaigns through stakeholder engagements and environmental programmes for States with active participation by eleven frontline States, was realised. Her words, "Retrofitting activities involved energy efficient systems in 50 communities in Borno State, low level intervention in environmental management by States' flood disaster management in 26 States of the federation and interventions made in climate change and waste management" were some of the achievements enumerated by the Minister.
During interactive sessions, members of the media, concerned citizens and civil society groups raised questions on the prevalence of environmental accidents, flood calamities, efforts to control wastes, choice of Nigeria as base for dumping wastes, fertilizer resources, oil spillage and erosion and policy on waste management.
While reacting to the questions raised, the Minister of Environment said tree planting is no longer a symbolic activity, rather a people-based and public oriented formation. "The Abuja Garden has 50 acres of land proposed through a bill already in the National Assembly. Paper bags usage in place of non-biodegradable packagings will be propagated as its assessment in terms of cost and efficiency has been explored. Regional networking and variable technology would be in place to achieve environmental friendliness"; Mailafia stressed. She called on Nigerians to abide by environmental laws for good health and productivity.
Earlier, while giving the opening remarks, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku has said that there is need for Nigerians to engage in regenerating the environment to fight flooding, erosion and bring survival to the ecosystem.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria