Former Minister of Power and Founder/Chairman of Geometric Power Limited, Professor Barth Nnaji, will headline the Symposium on Energy Transition billed to take place in Abuja on Friday, May 24, 2024, even as Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour.
Alhaji Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria
The symposium, with the theme: “Energy Transition in an Oil-dependent Economy”, will have Professor Nnaji as the keynote speaker alongside Professor Kayode Soremekun and Professor Chukwumerije Okereke. The event, which promises to be an intellectual harvest, will also feature a vast array of discussants.
The event, being put together and hosted by Development Agenda Magazine, is geared towards the sensitisation of the general public and the government on the global urgency that is this energy transition and the need for a compass of social equity in its navigation.
The global energy transition is a journey that spans over three decades. It is a movement towards jettisoning fossil fuels including oil, natural gas and coal for cleaner energy options like wind and solar as well as lithium-ion batteries. This is seen globally as an essential climate action aimed at reducing global temperatures and thereby mitigating the effects of climate change.
The symposium, according to the organisers, provides an opportunity for stakeholders to evaluate Nigeria’s contributions in this regard and proffering ways of supporting government, corporate and individual actions towards a socially equitable energy transition.
“This transition has more profound implications for Nigeria as we are not only facing the consequences of climate change but are still largely a monocultural oil-dependent economy even when we are among the countries with the least emissions of carbon dioxide in the world,” said Mr Paddy Ezeala, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Development Agenda Magazine, and Convener of the Symposium.
“It is against this background that we will be witnessing an intellectual dissection of our energy poverty, green growth and our individual and collective efforts towards energy competitiveness and cleanliness,” he added.
While Professor Bartholomew Nnaji is a professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, an innovator and one of the inventors of the E-Design Concept, Professor Kayode Soremekun is a Nigerian academic, author and the third vice chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State.
A renowned climate and development scholar, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke is a Professor of Global Climate Governance and Public Policy at University of Bristol, UK and also the Director of the Centre of Climate Change and Development at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.
Special guests expected at the event also include Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo and Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management, Dr Ishaq Kunle Salako.
The symposium will also have in attendance select students from various Nigerian universities, representatives of non-governmental organisations, international development organisations, diplomats, academics and women organisations.
Climate change is one of the problems that worries the world, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev, at the event titled “Raising Ambition, Delivering Action: COP29 Sustainable Business Forum”.
Mukhtar Babayev
According to him, natural disasters caused by this cause serious problems.
“Azerbaijan continues to contribute to this. Carbon tax is applied in developed countries. A new bill in this direction has been prepared in our country. It is already in the final process,” he said.
Babayev also disclosed that Azerbaijan is recognised as a strong country in the world.
According to him, this is an indicator of the trust of the countries of the world in Azerbaijan.
He added: “While visiting different countries of the world, we see that they recognise Azerbaijan as a strong country, not a small one.
“In addition to information about COP29 on airplanes, maximum conditions will be created for guests at airports. All business entities in public transport and catering facilities should be ready for this.”
A zero-emission future is becoming increasingly possible, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell, said at the event.
All countries will have to submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by early next year, he noted.
These commitments must underpin a global transformation that not only reduces emissions, but also protects people from the impacts of climate change, increases jobs and delivers inclusive economic growth, he added.
Stiell noted that for many countries, the implementation of such plans and achievement of goals depends on whether they can agree on a new financing agreement.
Transparent reporting on climate efforts is also important for building trust and increasing ambition, he stressed.
The UN hopes that the upcoming COP29 in Baku will increase ambitions to combat climate change, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Vladanka Andreeva, said at the event.
Strength is needed to take the necessary action, not only to achieve climate goals, but also sustainable development goals, she noted.
Andreeva added that private business should also participate in achieving such goals.
Azerbaijan can set an example to the world community in terms of successful cooperation between business and government, she said.
During an in-conversation discussion during the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2024 forum in Paris on May 15, Partner and Co-Investment Director at Spark+ Africa Fund, Peter George, and Senior Research Analyst at Energy Intelligence, Amena Bakr, explored how investments in innovative technologies for clean cooking on the African continent are poised to transform communities across the continent.
Peter George speaking at IEA 2024
“From a market opportunity standpoint, $20-40 billion a year is spent in African markets on cooking fuel, which is a huge market for the LPG industry, for electrification to enable the uptake of electric cooking stoves and fertiliser that can increase crop yields for farmers,” George stated, adding, “There are all these different ways to address this energy access gap and a lot of market opportunities.”
It was noted during the exclusive one-on-one conversation that clean cooking is poised to save at least 200 million hectares of forests globally by 2030. Clean cooking will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.9 gigatons of CO2 emissions equivalent per year, roughly equal to all emissions from airplanes and ships today.
“Clean cooking is thought to touch on 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” George said, stating, “If you look at the cost from the standpoint of deforestation and lost productivity, there are all sorts of ways in which you can quantify people lacking access to modern infrastructure. This cost is something like $2.4 trillion – in Africa, the cost is about $800 million.”
According to George, by taking concessional investment from the public sector, local and international companies can leverage private capital from more commercially oriented investors who seek higher-return profiles in Africa’s developing market.
“Affordability is key, especially when it comes to Africa,” stated Bakr.
A partnership between the African Refiners and Distributors Association and the Global LPG Partnership to mobilise $1 billion in funding for clean energy solutions was announced during the IAE 2024 summit’s first day. The aim of the fund will be to make the funds available to promote a sustainable transition to cleaner fuels for cooking.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will promote international cooperation and innovative solutions to tackle the pressing global water challenges at the 10th World Water Forum from May 18 to 24 in Bali, Indonesia.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General
The 2024 edition, held under the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity”, will bring together policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders from around the world and result in a joint global commitment to water availability and water cooperation.
This year’s World Water Forum, co-led by UNESCO, will emphasise the critical links between water management and climate disruption, highlighting how enhanced cooperation and better data collection can steer the world toward water security and resilience. UNESCO will be championing three core objectives: enhancing cooperation on water, improving knowledge and data collection, increasing education and awareness on water-related issues.
“As we face increasing water scarcity and climate variability, it’s imperative that we increase international cooperation to sustainably measure and manage water resources together and train and empower a new generation of water professionals,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
Increasing cooperation on transboundary water
From rivers and lakes to transboundary aquifers, states urgently need to collaborate and cooperate in managing the shared water resources that flow freely across their national borders.
The first step often lies in identifying shared water sources. As the leading organisation for monitoring transboundary aquifers, UNESCO has helped to identify transboundary systems across 153 countries, including 468 aquifers and 286 rivers and lakes.
UNESCO’s decade-long Governance of Groundwater Resources in Transboundary Aquifers project (GGRETA) has provided assessment, governance and policy aspects of transboundary aquifers across three continents, in addition to other localised programmes in West-Africa, the Mediterranean, the Balkans and South America.
A shared water framework can be a major catalyst for collective development, however, only a minority of riparian countries have transboundary agreements in place. A best practice case lies in the Senegal River Basin where the Manantali Dam, while physically located in Mali, is collectively owned and managed by Senegal River Basin Development Authority which contributes to the energy sector of the countries of the basin (Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal), producing electricity at lower cost and from a clean source.
Improving knowledge and data collection on water
Since the 1980s, data collection on water has worsened and there is an urgent need to harness technological advances to improve it.
UNESCO plays a vital role in harmonising and making water data and knowledge available through its Water Information Network System, a database of global and local water information which allows stakeholders to make informed decisions. Complementary to this, UNESCO’s Open Learning Platform helps users develop skills they need to turn this raw data into actionable insights.
As water and climate are intrinsically and increasingly linked, UNESCO has developed the Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) methodology to manage water resources in water-stressed areas by using a participatory, bottom-up approach that efficiently identifies hydro-climatic vulnerabilities. Flood and Drought Early Warning Systems have been implemented in Africa.
In addition to data coming from advanced technologies such as satellite surveillance, UNESCO calls for governments to invest more in training local communities to provide ground-truth data to complement, confirm and calibrate these measurements.
Systemic inefficiencies must also be addressed: today it is estimated that 5%-50% of water never reaches its destination due to leaky pipes and faulty systems. Improving the identification and resolution of these leaks represents a major opportunity to reduce water scarcity worldwide.
Increase awareness and understanding of water issues
Training a new generation of water professionals who can advise governments to implement water policies that take into account economic, social, political, health and agricultural impacts, will be key to combat water scarcity in the future.
Each year, UNESCO and its partners trains around 20,000 people through a network of 29 Category-2 research centres, 84 UNESCO university chairs and national committees. This network improves and reinforces the knowledge exchange between countries and provides courses, training and activities on specific water issues.
UNESCO also works to increase water education for the general public, and especially children and youth. UNESCO’s awareness campaigns, including through the Global Network of Water Museums comprised of 89 institutions across 38 countries educate 10 million visitors per year on topics ranging from water science to water usage in daily life.
UNESCO also calls for a more inclusive approach to addressing water issues: ancestral knowledge and know-how related to water hold many solutions for sustainably managing this resource. UNESCO’s LINKS programme is working to support indigenous peoples in sharing their approaches and methods of water management, governance and rights issues.
On May 14, 2024, the High Powered-Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project was in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu receiving Nigeria’s CLCS report from the committee
The committee came to brief President Bola Tinubu on recommendations given to Nigeria regarding its submission for an extended continental shelf by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).
The briefing was led by veteran diplomat, Amb. Hassan Tukur, the Chairman of the committee.
The update with the president featured technical presentations by Prof. Larry Awosika, a renowned marine scientist and Mr Aliyu Omar, Member/Secretary of the Committee and former staff of the National Boundary Commission (NBC).
Omar also served as the Desk Officer for the project office in New York for several years.
Worthy of note, Nigeria’s request to have it continental shelf extended was approved by the CLCS in August 2023.
The project, which aims to extend Nigeria’s maritime boundaries in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), has granted Nigeria sovereignty over an additional 16,300 square kilometers of maritime territory.
This is roughly five times the size of Lagos State.
The CLCS is mandated to, inter alia, consider the data and information submitted and provide recommendations on the outer limits submitted by the coastal state.
Article 76 of UNCLOS (1982) allows a qualifying coastal state to extend its continental shelf up to a maximum of 350M (350 nautical miles) or 150m nautical miles beyond its traditional Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 nautical miles.
Continental shelf is the natural submerged prolongation of its land territory.
The journey to extend Nigeria’s continental shelf project began in 2009 with the country’s submission to the CLCS.
The project faced delays due to a lack of funds and administrative challenges; in 2013 the Senate of the Federal Republic in its resolution of Feb. 14, 2013, urged the Federal Government to fund the project and set up an independent body to handle it.
However, it was only in November 2015 that the then President Muhammadu Buhari revitalised it.
Subsequently, he appointed the High-Powered Presidential Committee (HPPC), headed by the former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Malam Abubakar Malami, to oversee the project.
The HPPC operated as an independent technical body, effectively managing the project by cutting down on government bureaucracy.
Omar had led the Nigerian Technical Team through the question-and-answer sessions with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).
He was also the Member/Secretary of the HPPC with strong institutional memory of the project, highlighted this during the committee’s briefing to President Tinubu on May 14.
Omar said that when the HPPC briefed Buhari in 2022 on the status of the project, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) was still considering Nigeria’s submission and having technical interactions with the HPPC.
“These interactions and consideration have now culminated in the approval for Nigeria to extend its continental shelf beyond 200M (200 nautical miles).
“As it stands now, the area approved for Nigeria is about 16,300 square kilometers, which is about five times the size of Lagos State,” he said.
Nigeria’s extended continental shelf is in an area that is referred to as the “Golden Triangle of the Gulf of Guinea” due to its abundance of natural resources such as hydrocarbons, natural gas, and a variety of solid minerals.
Awosika, a pioneer member and former Chairman of the CLCS, explained that the technical team’s work involved lengthy processes.
He said it also required highly technical steps in the acquisition, processing and analysis of extensive marine scientific data offshore Nigeria’s margin for the submission to the UN CLCS.
He said that the Nigerian team had to defend the submission with the CLCS which involved highly technical question-and-answer sessions and provision of additional data and information.
Receiving the report, Tinubu commended the members of the technical team for working tirelessly.
He applauded their high technical and scientific expertise and solidarity to national cause throughout the eight years of service to the nation before an agreement was finally reached with the UN CLCS in August 2023.
It is instructive to note that Tinubu highlighted the interactions he had with his predecessor, Buhari, on the project; given that it was him, Buhari, who set up the HPPC to oversee the project in 2015.
Tinubu recounted how Buhari briefed him on the importance of the project.
“This is big congratulations for Nigeria. I commend the team and we must take advantage of this and invite you again to have a repeat of this knowledge exploration on geography, hydrography and the marine life.
“Nigeria is grateful for the efforts that you put into gaining additional territory for the country without going to war; some nations went to war; lost people and economic opportunities.
“We lost nothing but have gained great benefits for Nigeria; we will pursue the best option for the country,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu has also promised to ‘pursue the best option for the country’ on the project, even though the CLCS recommendations fall short of Nigeria’s submitted claim.
Perceptive observers say the achievement is a lesson on the importance of continuity in government projects. Abandoning projects due to changes in administration can lead to wasted resources and lost opportunities.
The extended continental shelf is a significant achievement of Tinubu’s administration and to Nigeria.
According to experts, this is something that has never happened in the nation’s history and may never happen again.
By learning from the ECS project, Nigeria can improve its approach to governance and project management, ensuring that with perseverance and continuity strategic initiatives are completed despite challenges.
The ECS project, initiated in 2009, faced delays and funding issues but persistence through the efforts of the immediate past administration paid off, and was finally approved by the UN in August 2023, shortly after Tinubu assumed office.
The country has taken note of articles 7 and 8 in the Annex II to the Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning recommendations received from the CLCS.
The project also demonstrates the importance of long-term thinking in governance.
Discerning stakeholders hold that while the project’s benefits may not be immediate, it will surely have a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy and maritime boundaries in the future.
By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN) have given environmental performance awards to oil and gas industry players.
Guests and awardees at the maiden edition of the award for the Oil and Gas sector players in Abuja
The Director-General of NOSDRA, Idris Musa, said that the awards are a testament to stakeholders’ collective commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation and pursuit of excellence within the oil and gas industry.
Musa said this at the maiden edition of the award for the Oil and Gas sector on Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Abuja.
The award was organised by NOSDRA in collaboration with SDN, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Some of the awardees are TotalEnergy, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Agip Oil, while Akwa Ibom received the best environmental-friendly state award.
He said that the award was to recognise the organisation with the best environmental performance for 2022 and 2023.
Musa said that the performance award was conceived to highlight and reward those that have taken bold steps to address environmental challenges.
“It is to showcase significant progress we can achieve when we commit to responsible practices. This initiative also reflects our understanding of the path to sustainability and the need to work together.
“It requires collaboration among industry operators, regulatory bodies, local communities and international partners,” he said
Musa said that by sharing best practices and leveraging on new technologies among others, the nation could drive the transformative change needed to secure a sustainable future for the oil and gas industry.
He said that NOSDRA plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment from the potential devastations arising from the operations of the oil and gas industry.
Musa explained that 73 companies were assessed from 2022 to 2023 based on performance variables, which included submission of incident reporting forms
Other variables are the inventory of spill response equipment stockpiles as a function of preparedness for response.
He said the award is grouped into four categories which included the best environmental performance for both local and international oil companies.
Others are most environmentally friendly states as well as awards for the 2019 and 2020 Environmental Performance Index carried out by SDN.
Florence IbokAbasi, Country Director, SDN, said the organisation’s collaboration with NOSDRA was to encourage improved environmental performance in the oil and gas sector.
She advocated for innovation and technical initiatives that would result in reduced oil spills and gas flare in the industry.
IbokAbasi identified some of the challenges in the industry as oil theft, sabotage and insecurity.
She said SDN was collaborating with relevant stakeholders including government agencies, and communities to ensure improved pollution reporting and a safer environment.
Jim Swartz, Chairman/Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit, a recipient of the award, said the organisation has been marked by continuous improvement, innovations and collaboration.
He was represented by Sam Daibo, Director, Government Affairs, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA).
“As we celebrate this environmental protection award, we re-echo our commitment to the partnership with NOSDRA and other stakeholders.
“The partnership is enhancing good environmental practices. Together we can build a sustainable future for Nigeria,” he said.
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, has urged Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) Council members to invest more in cutting-edge gas processing facilities in the country.
Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo
The Minister said this on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the ongoing retreatand governing council meeting for the MDGIF in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
He also urged the council members to make inclusivity and collaboration top priorities in decision-making.
Ekpo, in a statement by his Spokesman, Louis Ibah, said investments in infrastructure projects, which were essential to the effective distribution, transportation and use of natural gas throughout Nigeria, should be stimulated by the MDGIF.
He emphasised the need for the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as substitute fuels for cooking and transportation.
According to him, the construction of gas processing plants remains critical to increasing the value of the country’s natural gas resources.
“These plants are critical in separating and purifying raw gas streams, resulting in commercial products such as methane, ethane, propane and butane.
“By investing in cutting-edge gas processing facilities, we can improve the quality and quantity of gas supplies available for local consumption and export, thus driving economic growth and attracting investment in the area.
“Through encouraging the use of LPG for home use and CNG for transportation, we can lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, reduce air pollution and enhance public health outcomes.
“In order to do this, we must give top priority to building LPG distribution networks and CNG refueling stations around the country, ensuring that these clean energy sources are available and reasonably priced for everyone,” he said.
Ekpo commended MDGIF Council members for their hard work and dedication in furthering the goals of the Council.
He said such efforts should, however, be linked with the larger goals of inclusive growth, job creation and poverty alleviation.
The gas minister lauded President Bola Tinubu for the recent commissioning of the AHL Gas Processing Plant 2 (GPP-2) ANOH Gas Processing Plant (AGPC) 23.3km X 36”’ANOH-OB3 CTMS Gas Pipeline Project.
Ekpo said following the successful commissioning of these three projects, the president had directed that all critical gas projects in country would adopt the theme “From Gas to Prosperity, Renewed Hope” going forward.
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an ecology-focused non-governmental organisation (NGO), and the GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance have commended the House of Representatives on its resolution on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
GMOs
The groups said the lawmakers’ resolution to comprehensively investigate GMOs was laudable.
The groups’ position was conveyed in a statement signed by Ms Kome Odhomor, HOMEF’s Media/Communication Lead on Friday, May 17, 2024.
The resolution seeks a halt on approval of new products pending the completion of the investigation.
This resolution followed the adoption of the motion by Rep. Muktar Shagaya at a plenary session on Thursday.
The groups noted that the investigation, which was long overdue, was vital to save the country from the dangerous path to food colonialism, and contamination of genetic resources.
They said it would also check loss of biodiversity/nutritional diversity, soil degradation, and overall disruption of the nation’s agriculture and food systems.
“As the lawmaker rightly explained, the introduction of GMOs in Nigeria raises serious concerns about safety, regulatory oversight, and their potential impacts on the country’s biosafety.’’
The statement quoted the Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, as saying that investigation must be unbiased and thorough.
“To ensure this, the National Assembly should engage independent researchers to avoid contamination of the process by GMO promoters.
“This investigation should consider Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and investigate the underlying causes of hunger/food insecurity and as well establish definite measures to address those issues.
“This is the time to rescue Nigerians from being used for risky experimentations.”
The groups said there was need to critically examine the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act for its fitness for purpose.
“That law needs to be completely reworked to close existing loopholes including the composition of its governing/decision making board by excluding GMOs promoters such as NBMA.
“The lack of provision on strict liability, inadequate public consultation measures, absolute decision-making powers of the agency, minimal reference to the precautionary principle and many others.”
On the directive by the Reps to National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure labelling of GM crops already in the country, the group noted that it was a herculean task.
They said that the agency would need to devise strategies to have foods sold in local markets in basins, by the roadsides and in processed forms like “Ogi and Akara” labelled to ensure informed decision-making by the majority of people who purchased food from those sources.
“This exercise will prove that GMOs do not fit our socio-economic context; over the years, market shelf surveys conducted by HOMEF have revealed over 50 different processed/packaged foods labelled as produced using genetically modified ingredients.
“The survey has also revealed the fact that majority of our people do not read labels.’’
The groups advised that permits for commercialisation of the Bt Cowpea, Tela Maize, Bt Corn and all other GMOs be suspended pending the result of the investigation by the House Committee on Agriculture and others.
They reaffirmed the submission by Shagaya that the country needed to prioritise public health, biodiversity, increased support of small holder farmers in terms of extension service, provision of infrastructure to curtail waste.
The groups said that peasant farmers need access to credits, access to land and the growth of the local economy.
According to them, Nigeria should adopt agroecological farming which aligns well with the country’s socio-economic and socio-cultural context.
“Agroecology delivers increased productivity and economic resilience, revises/nourishes ecosystems.
“It strengthens local economies, mitigates climate change and promotes food sovereignty,” the groups said.
An environmental expert, Mr Taiwo Adewole, on Friday, May 17, 2024, said that the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles would help fight pollution.
Some CNG-powered mass transit buses
Adewole, who made the disclosure in a telephone interview in Lagos, said that the CNG vehicles would help fight pollution from fossil fuel aimed at protecting the environment and the people.
“CNG powered vehicles and generators will help fight pollution from fossil fuel that an average Nigeria uses on a daily basis.
“The government also needs to work on adequate power supply.
“Every single household in Nigeria has an average of one or two generators running on fossil fuel which pollute the environment with emission of carbon monoxide and sound pollution,” he said.
He added that the CNG vehicles would help reduce air pollution to the barest minimum.
“The government must consider first the environment, then the people and there must be collaboration and partnership which I termed the 3Ps, that is the Planet, People and Partnership,” he said.
Chairperson, Wood/Wood Products, a sectorial group in the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mrs Ngozi Oyewole, has urged the Federal Government to support the wood industry by sustaining forest management.
Forest
Oyewole, also the Founder of Noxie Ltd., gave the advice in an interview on Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Lagos.
She said that sustainable forest management involved responsible stewardship of forest resources to ensure their long-term environmental, social and economic viability.
She said that sustaining forest management was essential for preserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change effects, and supporting livelihoods of communities dependent on forests.
According to Oyewole, the government should take necessary actions to promote sustainable forest management.
She said that, to drive forest conservation, policies and regulations must be implemented to protect forests against illegal logging, deforestation and land degradation.
This, she said, should be done while promoting conservation practices to maintain ecosystem integrity.
The official added that the government must drive community engagement by involving local communities and other stakeholders in decision-making processes relating to forest management.
She also said that the government should respect the rights of the stakeholders.
“Nigeria must encourage adoption of sustainable forest management practices through certification schemes such as Forest Stewardship Council certification, which promotes responsible forestry practices and market access for certified wood products.
“The country must, henceforth, strengthen monitoring, compliance and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that forest operations adhere to sustainable practices, environmental regulations and social safeguards.
“Government should support research, innovation and technology transfer in sustainable forest management, including remote sensing, forest inventory systems and climate-smart forestry practices.
“We must develop strategies to address the impacts of climate change on forests, such as increased deforestation, forest fires and biodiversity loss, and implement measures to enhance forest resilience and adaptation.
“By prioritising sustainable forest management in the wood sector, the government can safeguard the environment, support local communities and ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the industry for future generations,” she said.
