The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has urged the Stakeholders to use the outcome of the 18th National Council on Environment (NCE) to deepen environmental sustainability nationwide.
Balarabe disclosed this recently in Katsina State while delivering a keynote address at the official opening session of the meeting with the theme: Tackling the Triple Planetary Crises, Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Pollution for Sustainable Development in Nigeria
The Minister appreciated His Excellency, Dikko Umaru Radda, the Executive Governor and the good people of Katsina State for graciously hosting the Council, Commissioners of Environment from the 36 States and the FCT, Development Partners, the Academia, Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), most especially the development partners such as UNDP, UNIDO, FAO, EU, UNICEF.
He also commended Dangote Group and the media outfits for their continued collaboration and support towards environmental governance in Nigeria.
Balarabe also commended the Katsina State for its remarkable achievement, progress and leadership in climate governance being ranked 2nd nationwide in the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Index in the first quarter of 2025 from 24th position last year to 2nd position this year behind Lagos State.
He further noted that Katsina State has demonstrated how strategic innovation can convert environmental challenges such as desert encroachment, soil degradation, and water scarcity into opportunities for sustainable growth and job creation.
The Minister also mentioned that National Council on Environment remains the highest policy-making body on environmental matters in Nigeria as It provides a veritable platform for the Federal, State and Local Governments as well as other stakeholders to deliberate on pressing environmental challenges, harmonize policies and collectively define the roadmap for sustainable environmental management in Nigeria.
He noted that the Federal Government will continue to demonstrate strong commitment towards achieving environmental sustainability through initiatives such as the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, the Great Green Wall Programme, the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, the National Adaptation Plan, Renewable Energy and Clean Cooking Policy.
He emphasized that environment is not a sectoral issue, it is the foundation of our existence and the backbone of our economy. Protecting it means safeguarding our people, our prosperity, and our future.
The Deputy Governor while declaring the Council opened, Mal. Faruk Lawal, who represented the Executive Governor of Katsina State thanked the Federal Ministry of Environment for choosing the State to host the 2025 NCE.
He further assured that the meeting will enhance the State efforts in ensuring environmental sustainability and climate financing.
Earlier, in his welcome address the Katsina State Head of service and Chairman Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of 18th NCE, Alh. Falalu Bawale reiterated that the choice of the state to host the Council Meeting signifies a strong confident and capacity of the State organizational competence and commitment to national service.
Bawale believed that the meeting was a celebration of share values , collective progress and professional identity and called on Council Members to utilize the rare opportunities of the meeting to establish contact and share ideas and knowledge on the environmental issues in their respective communities.
Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo presented paper on the theme of the 18th NCE, Tackling the Triple Planetary Crises, Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Pollution for Sustainable Development in Nigeria while Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise of UNDP presented paper titled: Community Actions in Tackling the Triple Planning Planetary Crises: UNDP GEF SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME EXPERIENCE.
Signed
Ibrahim Haruna
Director, Information and Public Relations
