Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment toward promoting and boosting environmental conservation in Nigeria.
This, according to the minister, is in a bid to guarantee the sustainability of Nigeria’s biodiversity and exotic ecosystem for the livelihoods of the citizens.
A statement issued by ministry’s Director Press, Saghir el-Mohammed, quoted the minister as expressing the commitment on Friday in Abuja.
The statement said that Ikeazor spoke while receiving the ECOWAS Advisor, Adewale Adeleke, and the delegation from West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emission Development Project (WABILED), who were on a courtesy visit to her.
The minister noted that the sustenance of the nation’s biodiversity was a core priority of the federal government.
“The fact is, we have not really paid attention to the issue of conservation in the past.
“But now, it is an area of focus for us. Our lives and livelihood depend on the ecosystem. Hence, we must put a deliberate effort toward boosting biodiversity conservation,” she said.
Ikeazor explained that working with other Ministers of Environment in Africa, Nigeria would ensure that the continent made a statement among the commity of nations during the forthcoming COP27, slated for Egypt later in the year.
She assured that her ministry would support every effort at protecting conservation and wildlife.
“Even as we look forward to COP27, we will make sure that Africa presents a strong voice, as we continue to work with other ministers of environment from Africa,” she said.
Ikeazor appealed for the support of WABILED in the implementation of Nigeria’s Wildlife Strategic Plan, as well as the signing of the Trans-Boundary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Republic of Cameroun.
She described the MoU as very key to the nation’s conservation efforts.
Earlier in his remarks, Adeleke said that the mission of the WABILED delegation to the ministry was to appreciate the federal government’s role in the conservation and sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.
He solicited for Nigeria’s support for the final endorsement of the West Africa Strategy for Combating Wildlife Crime’ by the ECOWAS Ministerial Council and Heads of State Summit.