NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
NMGS confers fellowship on 6 professors

NMGS confers fellowship on 6 professors

417 total views today

By Martha Agas

The Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) has conferred fellowship on six professors and others in the Geosciences field.

The President of the society, Prof. Akinade Olatunji, said that the conferment was in recognition of their contributions and impact on the field of geosciences.

Speaking at the award and dinner ceremony, Olatunji congratulated the awardees on their feat, stating that the conferment was highly competitive and the highest honour in the society.

“The fellowship is a big deal because 17 applied but only 14 got,“ he said.

He urged the new fellows to continue with their good works in the sector and to serve as an inspiration to their colleagues as well as the younger generations through their dedication and zeal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the professors include: Suyi Fadiya of the Obafemi Awolowo University; Philip Shekwolo, Director of Operations, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project and Saka Opeloye of the Federal University of Technology, Akure;

Others are Ibrahim Goni of the University of Maiduguri; Chukwuemeja Akaolisa of the Federal University of Technology Owerri and a post humous to Akinlolu Abimbola of the University of Ibadan.

The governor of Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang; the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba and Abdulfatai Gambari, Chief Executive Officer of Kursi investment ltd. were also conferred as honorary fellows.

NAN further reports that other fellows are: Adoyi Ochigbo; Israel Ojeyinka; Mathew Oyedokun; Olufunke Omidiran; Mayowa Lawrence; Kulu Pani; Sabina Agamah and Isaac Okorie.

Speaking on behalf of the fellows, Mayowa Lawrence thanked the society for finding them worthy of honour, assuring that they would continue to serve the NMGS to ensure its advancement to greater heights.

Awards were also presented for the best presentations at the technical sessions, young geoscientists/miners, entrepreneurship and for the best students among others.

The conference with theme “Emerging Global Perspectives, Trends and Sustainable Development of Minerals and Energy resources” will end on Friday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Gabriel Yough

Private sector partners APWEN, presidency to drive WASH Initiatives in Nigeria

Private sector partners APWEN, presidency to drive WASH Initiatives in Nigeria

415 total views today

By Tosin Kolade

The Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), has partnered with the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) and other stakeholders to advance sustainable WASH initiatives in Nigeria.

This was the thrust at the unveiling of the Partnership for Community Engagement in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (SSAP-CE) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the partnership aimed to leverage expertise, resources, and networks to address challenges and achieve the sustainable development goals.

OPS-WASH National Coordinator, Dr Nicholas Igwe, emphasised the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and highlighted specific projects and summits, aimed at promoting WASH initiatives both nationally and internationally.

According to him, the partnership, based on three pillars: Data and Technology, Financial Innovations, and Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, aims to create sustainable interventions across the six geo-political zones of the country.

Igwe stressed the necessity of collaboration among various stakeholders, including local partners, NGOs, the private sector, and the government, to effectively address challenges in the WASH sector.

He highlighted the importance of not working in isolation and called for collective action to achieve sustainable solutions.

Expressing his passion and patriotism for Nigeria, Igwe underscored the need for proactive involvement from all sectors of society, stating that solely relying on the government is not sufficient.

Igwe emphasised the importance of Nigerian-led initiatives, acknowledging the contributions of development partners such as UNICEF, USAID and others.

He also noted a significant milestone in Nigeria’s engineering community, where a woman assumed the presidency of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, indicating the potential for women to lead transformative efforts in the WASH sector.

Igwe called upon stakeholders across different states in Nigeria to join hands with the government and OPS-WASH to support the Renewed Hope Agenda and ensure the realisation of WASH goals.

The national coordinator highlighted the need for collective action to drive positive change in communities across Nigeria and to support the Federal Government’s development agenda.

APWEN President, Dr Adebisi Osim, highlighted the urgent need to address Nigeria’s water crisis, including flooding, poor water management, and insufficient access to clean water and sanitation.

Osim, represented by Hajiya Hauwa Sadique, stressed the vital connection between water, peace, and sustainable development, advocating for collaborative efforts to prevent conflicts and promote stability.

Osim called for empowered communities and outlined APWEN’s initiatives for engagement, urging investment in water infrastructure and women’s involvement in decision-making.

She encouraged the private sector to invest in innovative solutions and called on the media to raise awareness, reaffirming APWEN’s commitment to leveraging water for peace and prosperity in Nigeria.

Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement highlighted the establishment of her office by President Bola Tinubu as part of his Renewed Hope agenda.

Essiet, represented by Mayowa Akpati, said that these efforts were aimed at positively impacting lives, particularly at the grassroots level, through various initiatives and programmes.

She emphasised collaboration with various private sector organisations, focusing on finance support, community intervention, and technology advancement as pillars of OPSWASH’s mission.

Acknowledging the critical role of water and sanitation in sustainable development, Essiet stressed the challenges in ensuring universal access to safe, clean, and affordable water, advocating for collective action.

“The partnership between SSAP CE North Central, OPS-WASH, and the Association of Professional Women Engineers signifies a commitment to addressing the water and sanitation challenge.

“It bridges public and private sectors, involving professional bodies to tackle complex societal issues”.

Essiet stressed the vital importance of water for life and development, expressing concern over the ongoing lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, worsened by issues like climate change and rapid urbanisation.

She emphasised promoting sustainable water management, raising awareness on water-related issues, and empowering communities, particularly women and girls, in decision-making processes regarding water management.

The SSAP expressed gratitude to OPS-WASH, APWEN, and all partners involved, anticipating a fruitful partnership that would create lasting impacts and transform lives. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Involve geoscientists in construction to tackle building collapse in Nigeria – NMGS President

Involve geoscientists in construction to tackle building collapse in Nigeria – NMGS President

394 total views today

By Martha Agas

Prof. Akinade Olatunji, the President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), has urged Nigerians to involve geoscientists in every construction to address the increasing incidences of building collapse in the country.

Olatunji made the call at the 59th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the NGMS in Jos.

He said that the construction sector is booming, but required the involvement of specific professionals being a multi-disciplinary sector.

“This sector is also confronted with plethora of challenges, the major one being quackery and non-utilisation of relevant professionals for the jobs they are trained to do.

“All the interrogation has been toward what the engineers are doing or not doing and the quality of the construction materials.

“The views of other critical partners in the construction industry are not often sought for or side-lined, “ he said.

According to him, the best global practice is to engage engineering geologists to run pre-construction soil tests to determine the suitability of the soil for construction, as well as the type and depth of foundation required to support the proposed structure.

“If Nigeria must be spared the attendant horror and painful loss of lives and properties associated with collapsed buildings, roads and bridges.

“It must pay due attention to the contributions of the engineering geologists in the pre-construction investigations needed for such constructions,” he said.

He urged Nigeria to take after developed countries where the input of engineering geologists is utilised to assess specific physical properties of sub-surface rocks and soils to determine their suitability for construction purposes, foundation types and placements.

The president also emphasised the need for Nigeria to fully harness and deploy geoscience knowledge to significantly improve the country`s fortunes in the water sector.

He expressed deep concern that in spite the large surface and groundwater resources in the country, Nigeria has not been able to provide potable water for its citizens or sufficient water resources for year-round agricultural activities.

“It is a shame that rather than derive blessings from our numerous river systems, what we have is tale of woes yearly because of devastation from flooding, “ he said.

He decried that majority of Nigerians depend on groundwater extracted from constructed tube wells, popular known as boreholes for their water supply.

He said that the situation has turned the water drilling sector into all-comers affair, adding that the unregulated abstraction of groundwater has grave implications for the environment.

“To sustainably harness such groundwater resources, it is important that the geoscience knowledge is fully utilised, and our members are fully ready to lead the charge in those directions.

“It is high time we utilise the geoscience information available to us to solve the challenges of the water sector“, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that the conference, had the theme “Emerging Global Perspectives, Trends and Sustainable Development of Minerals and Energy Resources”. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng

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Edited by Polycarp Auta

Traditional rulers lament abject poverty in Plateau mining communities

Traditional rulers lament abject poverty in Plateau mining communities

388 total views today

By Martha Agas

Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba, on Tuesday lamented pervasive poverty in communities hosting mining sites in Plateau.

Da Buba, Chairman, Plateau Council of Traditional Rulers and Emirs, expressed the worries in Jos when he addressed the 59th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS).

He expressed regret that the rich and powerful had taken over mining to the detriment of their host communities, which they had left in penury.

Buba urged mining companies to factor in their host communities in their operations as the operations had rendered the host communities vulnerable to insecurity.

“Make sure that the localities also enjoy the good of the land,” he admonished.

In his speech, Plateau Gov., Caleb Mutfwang, also said mining communities had been experiencing environmental degradation, while the residents had been exposed to health risks.

“We want responsible mining development as we are worried about human health and environmental degradation.

“It is hard to distinguish between legal and illegal mining; a lot of criminalities goes on in the sector,” the governor said.

Mutfwang decried the fact that residential areas were being invaded under the guise of artisanal mining.

He said he received a report recently indicating that at least 36 persons lost their lives at mining sites in Plateau.

Mutfwang urged for good governance in the mining sector to address its challenges, particularly through robust synergy between relevant government agencies and the private sector.

He said Plateau had signed two bills into law to regulate the mining sector and open it to the private sector.

The governor noted that in addition to being blessed with mineral resources, Plateau has a huge potential for generating hydroelectric power and the capacity to develop solar energy.

In his remarks, NMGS President, Prof. Akinade Olatunji, said quackery and the underutilisation of relevant professionals was the bane of the mining sector in Nigeria.

He said the 59th annual conference of the NMGS aimed at providing solutions to the myriad of geosciences challenges faced by Nigeria.

In his goodwill message, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, described the NMGS as a critical partner in the provision of crucial technical and professional services needed in the solid minerals sector.

Alake’s message was delivered by the Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, Mr Obadiah Nkom.

He urged mining scientists to continuously improve on their skills so that they could compete favourably with their colleagues from other parts of the world.

He added that the society should also be intentional on building a good foundation for the next generation of mining engineers and geologists.

The News of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference with the theme: “Emerging global perspectives, trends and sustainable development of minerals and energy resources’’ will end on March 22.

Highlights of the opening was the conferment of honorary fellowships on the Gov. Mutfwang and the Gbong Gwom Jos. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Mining: Association advocates safe practices, use of improved technology

Mining: Association advocates safe practices, use of improved technology

345 total views today

By Martha Agas

The National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Dele Ayanleke, has called for safe mining practices and improved technology to reposition the sector.

Ayanleke made the call in a paper he presented at the pre-conference and panel discussion of the 59th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) of the Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Jos on Monday

The paper was titled “Unlocking the Wealth Creation Potential of the Artisanal And Small-scale Mining sub-sector through innovative implementation of a robust governance structure.”

He said that mining practices could be imbued in miners through capacity building, which was particularly crucial for Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM).

Ayanleke said that capacity building for ASM operators and mining operators would empower them to comply with best practices.

“By enhancing the skills and knowledge of ASM operators, they can improve productivity, adopt sustainable mining techniques, and access higher value markets,” he said.

He called on investors in technology and innovation to support the mining sector, adding that the move could significantly enhance the productivity and sustainability of ASM operations.

Ayanleke, however, urged the government and stakeholders to invest in affordable and environmentally- friendly mining technologies, such as mercury-free processing methods and efficient ore extraction techniques, to develop the sector

He said that unlocking the wealth creation potential of ASM required a multi-faceted approach that addressing factors such as governance, market access, finance, among other factors.

Ayanleke said that the first step towards unlocking the wealth creation potential of ASM was to formalise and regulate the sector.

According to him, the move involves establishing clear legal frameworks, licensing procedures, and environmental standards.

He said that formalisation was crucial to enable ASM operators to gain access to legal rights, financial services, and markets, while ensuring environmental sustainability and compliance with labour standards.

Ayanleke urged the government to support ASM cooperatives and associations in accessing formal markets, negotiating fair prices, and meeting quality standards.

The MAN president said that financial inclusion was critical to facilitate access to micro-credit facilities for ASM operators to expand their businesses.

“Governments can collaborate with financial institutions to develop tailored financial products, such as micro-loans and savings accounts, designed to meet the unique needs of ASM operators,” he said.

Ayanleke said that robust community engagement and stakeholder participation, in addition to the creation of wealth, would build harmony between the parties involved.

According to him, the government should enforce strict environmental regulations, promote reclamation and rehabilitation of mining sites, and invest in alternative livelihoods for communities dependent on mining.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference theme is “Emerging Global Perspectives, Trends and Sustainable Development of Minerals and Energy Resources and will end on March 22. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Nick Nicholas//Buhari Bolaji

C-G urges retiring officer to engage in meaningful activities

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By Abigael Joshua

Dr Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General (C-G), National Park Service (NPS), has urged a retiring officer, Dr Martins Omole, to engage in meaningful activities in life after retirement.

Goni gave this advice in Abuja at the valedictory/pulling out parade of Omole, retired Assistant Conservator-General (AC-G), from the service.

He implored the retiring officer to be prudent in his expenses and continue in his positive attitude to work.

Goni commended Omole’s career progression in the service and his dedication to work.

Responding, Omole expressed satisfaction on his contribution to the NPS for 35 years.

“I am glad to be part of the team that has conserved the ecology, the flora and fauna resources of National Park Service,’’ he said.

He called on the Federal Government to support the national park service and provide them with all the necessary funds to carry out their duties.

On his part, Pastor Kayode Daniel of the Deeper Life Bible Church, urged Omole to embrace God for the remaining days of his life in order to attain greater heights. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Mai Bola: Public nuisance or waste management partners?

Mai Bola: Public nuisance or waste management partners?

307 total views today

By Kayode Adebiyi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Recently, the activities of informal waste collectors, also known as mai bola or mai shara, have come under heavy scrutiny by residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

These waste collectors push their carts while announcing their presence to residents who either invite them in or take out their refuse for them to collect.

Mai bola is however not to be mistaken for scavengers, who go about collecting sellable waste items such as plastics, scrap metals, electrical appliances and vehicle parts.

While some residents, especially in FCT satellite towns, believe that these informal waste collectors are offering essential services, others worry that a good number of them disguise as waste collectors to engage in criminalities.

A resident of Karu, a suburb of Abuja, who simply identified herself as Mrs Aliyu, agreed that informal waste collectors offer essential services.

“Without them, how do we dispose of our refuse? Unlike the city centre, there are no formal provisions for waste collection here, so what should we do but patronise them?” she asked.

Other residents say the fact that those informal waste collectors exist points to the failure of an efficient waste management system within the FCT, especially in satellite towns.

They say mai bola exists because the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), the agency charged with the responsibility of the protection and management of the FCT environment, has not been very effective.

“Even in town, where AEPB’s presence is felt, they collect waste maybe once a week. Most times, waste bins are overflowing with refuse before they go to collect.

“Our situation is different in satellite towns. We don’t get to see them at all, but we have mai bola whom we see daily and hand our refuse to for a token,” a resident of Nyanya said.

These submissions mean that informal waste collectors are more readily available and therefore have taken over the responsibilities of AEPB in many parts of the FCT.

As essential as their services is to FCT residents unserved or underserved by the AEPB, many tread with caution when patronising them as a result of their tendency to engage in criminal acts.

Mr Abdul Hassan, a resident of Jikwoyi, another suburb of Abuja, said his experience with mai bola has made him place them under scrutiny each time they come for waste collection.

“Sometimes, when it is quiet, they enter into your compound unsolicited and if they find any valuable item, they will steal it. Even when you invite them, you have to be cautious.

“Some years ago, I invited one in, and before I went inside to bring his payment, he had stolen my wife’s masa pan and my children’s school shoes.

“As we don’t have other options than to patronise them, what I do now is to take the trash to them outside the gate to deny them access into the compound,” he said.

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of informal waste collectors’ activities is how they negatively impact the environment by how they dispose of the waste they collect from door-to-door

Residents who use the services of informal waste collectors feel relieved each time their trash is collected, but do they ask: “Where do these wastes end up?”

Environmentalists say while there are three stages of waste management, residents seem to only care about the first stage which directly concerns them.

The first stage is the waste management in the area where it is generated, the second is the management of collection and transportation of waste.

The last stage is the management of waste at its final destination or dumping grounds.

The last two stages should be the responsibility of the waste management establishment; in this case, the AEPB.

There used to be four major waste disposal sites managed by the board located at Mpape, Gousa, Ajata, and Kubwa.

However, the Mpape, Ajata, and Kubwa disposal sites are reported to be closed as a result of stench, air pollution, and fire outbreaks.

So, where do informal waste collectors take refuse to? The answer is simple: illegal dumpsites.

One such dumpsite is located around Karu Village, where heaps of refuse not only put the health of residents at risk but also threaten the environment.

Once intolerable, the dumpsite is set on fire and stinking smoke clouds the entire area.

Sometimes, the Abuja Municipal Area Council deploys trucks to collect refuse from the site only for the heaps to reappear in a matter of days.

A report said although the burning of refuse is a common practice in the FCT, the practice is not done in a properly controlled manner.

Indeed, incineration in illegal dumpsites such as the Karu Village is often carried out by scavengers and residents.

The AEPB says its operations are hampered by the failure of residents to pay their subscription fees.

“We cannot continue to give free services; the services rendered are already subsidised because what we are charging are the rates of 2012 which are very old rates.

“It is highly subsidised and so we expect residents to pay,” the media quoted Mr Osi Braimah, AEPB Director as saying.

To demonstrate that it means business, the board in last year arraigned 65 defaulters at a mobile courting sitting at Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

The defaulters were arraigned for failure to pay the waste evacuation bill which is contrary to section 30 (4) of the Board Act.

Stakeholders say that as much as the AEPB lacks a proper waste management and recycling system, FCT residents will continue to patronise informal waste collectors.

The flip side is that their activities will continue to pose huge environmental, human health and safety risks. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

WaterAid urges Nigeria to prioritise women’s well-being through WASH investments

WaterAid urges Nigeria to prioritise women’s well-being through WASH investments

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By Tosin Kolade

WaterAid has called on Nigerian Government to prioritise women’s well-being through targeted investments in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.

Evelyn Mere, WaterAid’s Country Director, made this call in a statement issued in commemoration of International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8.

Mere said that the organisation acknowledged women as a critical demographic; constituting 50 per cent of the nation’s population.

She said that strategic WASH initiatives were pivotal to improving women’s lives and propelling societal development.

Mere said that neglecting half of the population impeded national progress, underscoring the importance of investing in safe and inclusive WASH.

“The lowest hanging fruit for investing in women to achieve progress is to invest in safe and inclusive WASH.

“Increasing access to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene protects the rights of women, promotes their dignity, and enhances national development.”

She said WaterAid had designed female-friendly toilets; urging government at all levels to adopt and invest in their construction for widespread implementation in public places.

According to her, the organisation believes that such women-friendly investments are crucial in addressing the disparities impacting women, particularly in the context of poor access to WASH.

She said investment in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) was one of the most effective ways to invest in women, with poor access impacting women and the girl child disproportionately.

“Issues such as the time and health burden of water collection, vulnerability to infection, and the lack of accessible menstrual hygiene facilities contribute to the exclusion of women from economic and livelihood activities.

“WaterAid calls on the Nigerian government to mark this year’s International Women’s Day by investing in increased access to WASH.

“This includes the provision of potable water, investment in safe and sustainable sanitation facilities, and ensuring the availability of accessible and affordable hygiene materials to preserve women’s dignity,’’ she said.

Celebrated annually on March 8, the theme of 2024 International Women’s Day is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.’’(NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Awareness on biodiversity aligns with National Park’s mandate–C-G

Awareness on biodiversity aligns with National Park’s mandate–C-G

258 total views today

By Abigael Joshua

Dr Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General(C-G), National Park Service (NPS), says creating awareness on biodiversity conservation aligns with the mandate of the National Park Service.

Goni communicated this when a team from the Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet), an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), paid him a courtesy visit on Friday in Abuja.

Goni, who was represented by the Assistant Conservator-General(AC-G) Ecology and Resource Management, Dr Mohammed Kabir, commended the group for the visit and assured of park’s readiness for more collaboration on biodiversity conservation.

Earlier, Mr Umoru Ameh, Finance and Admin Officer, CSDevNet, said that the group was ready to foster collaboration with the National Park Service on its ongoing projects related to biodiversity conservation education and awareness.

The CSDevNet team also embarked on a tour of NPS facilities such as the museum and the animal orphanage.

Danjuma Magaji, Deputy Conservator-General (DC-P) at the museum, said awareness was key to biodiversity conservation.

Newton James, Deputy Conservator-General (DC-P) in charge of NPS Animal Orphanage, said the facility was used to conserve rescued wildlife.

“We don’t keep animals in captivity because we are not zoo keepers; we raise rescued animals from poachers,’’ he said.

More so, the group paid a courtesy visit to Dr Agnes Asagbra, the Director-General (D-G) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), who expressed willingness to partner with it on biodiversity conservation.

Asagbra, who was represented by Mrs Scholastica Bello, acting Director Planning, Research and Statistics Unit, NBMA, assured that the agency would remain committed to allowing only safe Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) come into the country.

“Presently, we are not at the ports to monitor illegal entry of GMOs but we have a memorandum of understanding with those at the ports,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

World Wildlife Day: National Park advocates need for conservation

World Wildlife Day: National Park advocates need for conservation

246 total views today
By Abigael Joshua
The National Park Service (NPS) has underscored the need for all stakeholders to synergize to conserve Nigeria’s wildlife from extinction.
Dr Ibrahim Goni the Conservator-General (C-G), who was represented by Dr Mohammed Kabir, Assistant Conservator-General (AC-G) Ecology and Resource Management said this on Tuesday in Abuja.
He stressed the importance of wildlife, noting that without wildlife, humanity could not exist.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the theme of the 2024 World Wildlife Day is: “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”.
He said the 2024 wildlife day was celebrated to create awareness on the need to preserve wildlife; especially animals and plants from extinction.
“When we say wildlife, we are not talking of animals alone. It includes the plants because today we are talking of climate change, deforestation and all the actions we create to harm the environment.
“So, we need to protect these natural resources for future reference.
“We want to imbibe the culture of conservation in the young ones hence the need for the quiz competition amongst secondary schools students.
“We want them to know the importance of the environment and the need to plant trees to mitigate climate change that is why we have conservation clubs in these schools,” he said.
The C-G expressed optimism that the young students would in future make policies that would address climate change in the country when they become policy makers.
On his part, Oliver Stolpe, the Country Representative for UNODC, Nigeria, noted that the importance of preserving and protecting Nigeria’s rich biodiversity had some key findings from the Wildlife Chapter of UNODC’s Organised Crime Threat Assessment for Nigeria published in 2023.
“The assessment found that Nigeria is a key transit hub and consolidation point for various forms of illegal trade in wildlife and forest products, especially for pangolin, ivory and rosewood,” Stolpe said.
“These products are sourced both from Nigeria as well as from other countries in the region including Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic.
According to UNODC’s World Wildlife Seizures Database, there are more than a thousand records between 2011 and 2020 which indicate Nigeria as a source, transit or destination country, or where the offender was a Nigerian national.
He commended the Nigeria Customs Service pointing out that seizures at Nigeria’s land, sea and airport border points had been on the rise as two thirds of all seizures involving Nigeria were reported by the authorities of other countries.
NAN further reports that a road walk and quiz competition where six secondary schools were represented organised by NPS in commemoration of the 2024 wildlife day on March 4.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
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