ABUJA— THE Federal Government yesterday insisted that all oil and gas companies must comply with the July 31st 2008 deadline for the stoppage gas flaring in Nigeria as the country can no longer tolerate the hazard posed by these activities to the country’s Eco-System.
This is coming two weeks after the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha stated in Abuja that the 2008 gas flaring deadline cannot be feasible in 2008 as the government is not serious about it.
Speaking at the yearly ministerial briefing held in Abuja, yesterday, Thursday, the Minister of Environment, Col Bala Mande (rtd) noted that this administration realized the role of environment in the existence and survival of humanity and it is against this backdrop that the ministry has taken some decisive actions that will not only ensure that maximum benefits are derived from the environment but that our environment is protected for posterity. Just as he also stated that a bill to ban the use of cellophane to package sachet water in Nigeria has been sent to the National Assembly as it has already received the blessing of the President, chief Olusegun Obasanjo since cellophane takes longer time to decay. Giving a breakdown of the ministry’s activities, the minister said the protection of the environment is paramount to the achievement of the objectives of our socio-economic reforms such as National Economic Empowerment Strategy (NEEDS), New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI).
He noted that the ministry has continued to show commitment to the implementation of the multilateral Environmental Agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory as well as building capacity to achieve its mandate through bilateral and multilateral cooperation and collaboration.
Lamenting the menace of drought and desertification and its monumental environmental, economic and social impacts especially in various parts of Northern Nigeria, which is quite worrisome resulting to an annual loss of about 350,000sqm of arable landmass, the minister called for a dire and urgent need to halt this nagging situation to forestall the attendant disastrous consequences.
According to him, in order to check the menace of drought and desert encroachment, the ministry of environment has developed a pilot sand dune stabilization project which has been completed in Dukku, Kebbi state and the Federal Government has approved funds for the replication of this project in Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi and Borno States.
“The ministry in collaboration with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency is carrying out an afforestation trial project using peruvian Algarrobo tree species in four arid states of Borno, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa. The aim of the final project is to generate adequate information that could enable JICA and the Government embark on a full-scale aforestation project in the arid and semi arid zones of the country. “One hectare of Algarrobo woodlot has been successfully established in Maiduguri. Plans to replicate these projects are in top gear”, he stated.
Col Bala Mande also disclosed that the President has approved the take-off grants for the shelter belt and afforestation component while efforts are on to present to the President work plan and budget for the erosion, flood and coastal zone management component of the council’s mandate adding that funds have been released to each of the eleven frontline states for raising and acquiring one million assorted seedlings for this year’s planting.
On the development of integrated coastal area management plan for Nigeria, the minister stated that a presidential committee for the development of a blue print for integrated coastal area management (ICAM) in Nigeria to check the indiscriminate
exploitation of the near shore-areas which contain abundant sands as Nigeria is having a coastline of 850km blessed with many resources which have been put in place.
Col Mande stated that about 190,969 barrels of oil have been lost to oil spillage in the Niger Delta region between 1999 to 2003 which led to an increased monitoring activities of the ministry resulting to a drastic reduction of oil spillage hoping that the volume of spill will further decrease with sustained monitoring and enlightenment. “The ministry is also currently monitoring a number of sites undergoing remediation while grant of consent has been approved for some environmentally acceptable technologies”, he added.
The minister called on all to be fair to our environment as we must jealously guide and protect the delicate network of the connecting fibres that hold the world together.
