The Conservator-General, National Park Service (NPS), Dr. Ibrahim Goni, has solicited the partnership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) towards safeguarding the nation’s forest reserve.

Goni made the call when the management staff of NPS paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, in Abuja.

According to a statement by Maj-Gen Benjamin Sawyer, Director, Defence Information, Goni said NPS was established for the purpose of protecting and conserving the biodiversity in the designated areas identified as national parks, game reserves and forest reserves.

The conservator-general commended the military for the support far, adding that there was need to sustain the existing collaboration towards tackling the current security challenges facing the nation.

He said that the collaborative arrangement would be on combat training of NPS personnel and logistic support in order to boost the agency’s mandate of securing the forest reserves.

According to him, “these forest reserves and national parks which are approximately 1,129 square metres have become hideouts for bandits and terrorists”.

Responding, the CDS, Gen. Irabor, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Planning, AVM Dahiru Sanda, reiterated the commitment of the military to collaborate with the NPS.

Irabor described the service as a key agency in the nation’s security architecture.

He called on all stakeholders to support the organisation towards ensuring that the forests were well protected against criminal elements

The CDS charged NPS on the need to dominate the nation’s forests in terms of intelligence gathering and information sharing with the military and other security agencies so as to checkmate every form of terror and other crimes.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says the state is raising money for the Lagos State Green Bond Market Development Programme.

Sanwo-Olu said the bond was geared at building a greater, circular, climate-resilient and prosperous state.

The governor made the remark on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, when he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FMDQ Group and Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa), as implementing partners, at Lagos House, Marina.

According to the governor, “Green Bond Framework Development Programme”, is a crucial first step toward creating a viable financing option for future green and sustainability projects.

Sanwo-Olu noted that Green Bonds could assist in unlocking sustainable investment opportunities in Lagos State, opening the door to advance adoption of innovative new technologies, financing of projects that provided green jobs, and promote economic and climate resiliency.

He lamented that climate change affected everyone, but it was expected to hit developing countries the hardest, especially low-lying states such as Lagos.

He, however, noted that despite its devastating effects, climate change was being increasingly viewed as a gateway to new business opportunities, opening many profitable ways for investors to help protect the planet.

He added that one of such ways was through Green Bonds.

“Lagos State is particularly mindful of the effects of climate change and as such, has shown and continues to show its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

“To achieve these lofty goals however, funding is required, far in excess of what the state can currently generate and very urgently.

“The financial sector will therefore, need to play a vital role in accelerating the local market’s ability to provide the required support, by expanding to green lending as an alternative source of funding for financing eligible green projects and assets in Lagos state.

“I commend and thank our partners, the Financial Centre for Sustainability, FMDQ Group and FSD Africa, funded by the UK Government, who are supporting this development programme.

“This Green Bond Framework Development Programme is a crucial first step toward creating a viable financing option for future green and sustainability projects.

“There is no doubt that Green Bonds can assist in unlocking sustainable investment opportunities in Lagos state, opening the door to advance adoption of innovative new technologies, financing of projects that provide green jobs, and promote economic and climate resiliency.

An environmentalist, Oladimeji Akinjobi, has called for adequate training and sensitisation of Nigerians on the dangers of plastic pollution to the environment.

He noted that concerted efforts and actions had become necessary in tackling climate change effects caused by plastic pollution.

He called for an end to plastic pollution in the country to preserve human lives and prevent climate change effects on the environment.

“Training people on recycling and sensitising Nigerians on the dangers of plastic pollution should be a continuous exercise.

“It is important to sensitise and enlighten people on recycling and recyclables. It is also important that people understand how to sort out their wastes for easy recycling.

“The major challenge people usually face that discourages them from recycling activities is evacuation of the plastic wastes,” he said.

Akinjobi said the company has all it takes to encourage recycling activities.

“We have trucks and vans to pick up plastic wastes.

“Earth wise, climate change has gotten on us. The planting season is already delayed because of this; we need to take action against plastic pollution.

“The earlier we take action, the better for us and the environment,” he said.

Mr Adebola Makanjuola, another environmentalist, said curbing plastic pollution would save lives from micro-plastics pollution.

“We should stop plastic pollution and indiscriminate littering of plastic wastes in our oceans to preserve lives.

“When we stop plastic pollution we preserve wildlife and our own life in return.

“We should consider the health benefits of eradicating plastic pollution before considering the monetary benefits and incentives,” he said.

Makanjuola described the world as an ocean community being covered by 70 per cent of water.

“If 70 per cent of the earth body is under attack owing to plastic pollution, then we cannot be right,” he said.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) plans to raise $40,000 to plant 250,000 trees in the country that will spread across 250 public schools to improve the quality of children’s health.

The Head Communications, NCF, Oladapo Soneye, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital said that it would also help improve the air children breathe.

He said that NCF would partner with Global Giving, a globally accredited crowdfunding platform to raise the $40,000 to plant 250,000 trees in public schools across Nigeria within the next year.

He said that the funds would be received and managed by Global Giving, adding that the crowdfunding acceleration exercise would run online from Sept. 13 to Sept. 30.

He further said that the platform was open to the general public for their donations toward this good cause.

“In keeping to its mandate of building a society where people prosper while living in harmony with nature, NCF will improve the quality of air in public schools by planting trees.

“Most schools’ environments in Nigeria are bare and void of trees and this has led to hot and polluted environment, making school children be more restless, prone to ill-health and generally low performance in their studies.

“The donations will be considered people’s contribution to building a better and healthier society, especially for our children,” said the statement.

Trees play important roles in maintaining a virile and sustainable environment, apart from beautifying the environment it helps to clean the air.

In recent times, NCF has been visiting schools across the nation to plant trees, create gardens and teach the teachers and pupils on upcycling activities.

NCF has consistently implemented programmes that help restore and conserve the environment, support community livelihood, protect species; and provide environmental education for teeming students and youths across the country for over four decades.

Minister Of State For Mines And Steel Development, Dr Uche Ogah, Has Decried The Absence Of Support From The Central Bank Of Nigeria For The Development Of Mines And Solid Mineral Sector.

The Minister Made His Views Known At A Two-day Public Hearing Organised By The Senate Committee On Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development And Metallurgy.

The Public Hearing Was Designed To Get Inputs Of Stakeholders On The Preparations Of Four Bills And For An Investigative Motion For The Solid Minerals Sector.

Ogah, Who Called For Support In All Areas For The Development Of The Sector, Said There Was A Need To Support Research For Growth Of The Sector.