FG approves N10bn for desert control -- Mailafia

The Federal Government has approved N10 billion as part of its efforts to control desertification in 11 states in the northern part of the country.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, said this in her keynote address at the ongoing National Council on Environment in Makurdi.

Mailafia said that the money would be used to construct a green belt from Dandi Arewa local government of Kebbi State to Marte local government of Borno.

She said that the project was one of President Goodluck Jonathan's initiatives aimed at in controlling environmental challenges in the country.

“The Great Green Wall Programme is to fight against desertification in the 11 frontline states of the north for three years.

“The GGW involves the establishment of a green belt covering 1,500 kms long and 15 kms wide from Dandi Arewa local government of Kebbi State to Marte local government of Borno State.”

She said that the Federal Government had commenced full implementation of the UN resolutions on reducing of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, to conserve natural forest and mitigate climate change in the country.

She appealed to all state governments to enforce environmental laws to prevent future disasters in the country.

“There is need to enforce environmental laws as many of us suffered seriously in last year's flood disaster; especially now that there is the likelihood of more serious flood in 2013.”

The minister expressed regret that of the 3.2 million tonnes of waste generated in the country, only 20 per cent to 30 per cent was collected, resulting in the blockage of drains, flooding and poor air quality in the country.

She observed that climate change was the greatest environmental challenge facing the world.

According to her, the phenomenon has caused a disruption in the entire world’s weather climate patterns, with attendant impact on physical systems and socio-economic endeavours.

She called on the private sector to scale up investments into renewable energy sources and energy efficiency through the development of pilot mitigation projects aimed at supplementing the grid of energy supply.

Mailafia also appealed to all state governments to ensure that environmental Risk Assessment Plan was carried out on all major projects in the state for the purpose of healthy living.

Also in a speech, Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue noted that the state suffered ``unimaginable'' losses during the 2012 flood disaster which swept through seven local governments.

“We are still counting our losses and pains of last year's flood disaster; my people were made to abandon their houses and farms, among other property, to relocate to other areas that were not affected.’’

Represented by his Deputy, Stephen Lawani, Suswam said that the state had constructed drainages and converts as part efforts to mitigate possible flooding this year.

The guest speaker at the event, Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, an environment consultant and climate change specialist, expressed regret that the resolutions of the 8th council meeting held in Kaduna in 2011 had not been implemented.

Oladipo said that if the resolutions were implemented, Nigeria would not have witnessed heavy flooding in 2012.