The Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal has assured the Katsina State Government that the handing over of Kogo Forest Reserve to the Federal Government will protect the potentials of the Forest for the benefit of younger generations.
Balarabe revealed this while leading the delegations of the 18th Meeting of the National Council of Environment (NCE) on a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency, Mal. Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON.
The Minister noted that the NCE was meant to review some Environmental issues and challenges that is affecting our environment in view to develop policies to address them adequately.
Balarabe also commended the efforts of the state in ensuring that environmental challenges are tackled headlong whick led the State being raked 2nd nationwide in the Sub-Nationals on Climate Governance performance ranking in the first quarter 2025.
He also rolled out some of the policies by the Ministry to mitigates environmental issues in the Country, such as National Clean Cooking Policy, Waste to Wealth and Circular Economy Initiatives, Carbon Market Activation (Draft), Ban on Single Use Plastic in Government MDAs and Plastic Waste Management to ensure that all environmental challenges in the Country were minimized.
The Minister informed the Governor that his entourage stopped over at the Palace of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji (Dr.) AbdulMumini Kabir Usman, CFR to seek his blessing and support in addressing all environmental issues in the State and Nigeria at large.
Balarabe believed that the advice and suggestions of the Royal Highness will help the Ministry to achieve its mandate under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR Administration.
In his response, the Executive Governor of Kastina State, His Excellency, Mal. Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON disclosed that it was an honor for the Government and good people of Katsina State to host the National Council of Environment where best practice of environmental sustainability will be harmonized.
Gov. Radda rolled out some of the interventions by the State to mitigate climate change such as installation of 25 MW Solar power to provides electricity for 12 institutions in the State, construction of 2 Hydro Dams to generate more electricity, flood control and enactment of laws to safeguards all existing natural resource in the State.
He thanked the leadership of Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project for their intervention which reduced flooding in the State and promised to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment to address more environmental problems in the Country.
Signed
Ibrahim Haruna
Director, Information and Public Relation
