The Nigerian Government says it will continue to advocate for effective implementation of lands rights for women in the country.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Ibrahim Yusufu stated this in Abuja, the nation’s capital at the Commemoration of the 2023 World Desertification and Drought Day, “Themed Her Land Her Right: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals”.

The Permanent Secretary said that Stakeholers, in the environmental sector should ensure that women have equal rights in access to land in law and practice.

This he said would help to prevent private corporations and investors, powerful local elites, multilateral organisations, and family members from discriminating against women in their rights to access, use, inherit, control, and own land.

“I Would like to extend to all of you a cordial welcome on this occasion of the celebration of World Desertification and Drought Day. Today, as emphasis the world over is on equality, falmess and justice, this year’s World Desertification and Drought Day theme is “Her Land. Her Right”,very gladdening and heartwarming.

“Driven by the urgency of a global rush for land and extracted resources and unprecedented urbanisation and hastened by the growing impact of climate change and frequency of natural disasters, women have been at the center of human rights violations worldwide regarding their rights and access to land.” he said.

The permanent Secretary also noted that women’s land rights are ostival to democracy, peace, justice, sustainable development and security for all.

“Securing land rights for women will sets off powerful, continued ripple effects that go a long way toward realizing gender equality and a range of critical SDGs and human rights,” he stated.

He further said that women are major actors in the global efforts to reduce and reverse land degradation.

The Permanent Secretary was represented by the Director Department of Drought and Desertification Management in the Ministry, Mrs Mable Emmanuel.

Tree Planting

FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Adesola Olusade said deliberate efforts was being made by the FCT to ensure that it plant trees within its environment to promote an environment where the temperature can be regulated.

“With today’s very significant for us, it is the International Day for desertification and Drought control is set aside by the United Nations to raise consciousness on the damaging and deleterious effects of desertification and drought which is ravaging the continent. Now, deliberate efforts is being made on this day, to ensure that we plant trees within our environment to promote an environment where the temperature can be regulated,” he said.

He said the FCT would continue to put forth effort to promote the planting of trees.

Mr Olushola, said the FCT would reinvigorate the compliance with regulation governing the FCT to ensure that all contribute collectively, to make Abuja a very safe and green place.

“Abuja is a green city and these have been tested by many heads of government that visit Nigeria, when they come into the country they are impress we what we ae doing, that’s what I also eenjoined the department that, Let us rotate the venue of this event. So that will go to another place and plant there. it will be my delight to see that before the end or during the tenure of this administration, the entire airport is lined with trees, so that anyone come into the FCT will be welcomed by their good aesthetics,” he stated.

According, to him, there are regulations governing the development of assets. It’s also specified among holders of every house the number of trees that should be planted.

Director Parks and Recreation Center FCT, Mr Isaiah Ukpanah said that the Department of Parks and Recreation have been planting trees to ensure that the environment is green

He said the FCT have planted over 250 trees in Abuja.

“You can really see the whole environment of Abuja is quite great and that’s the effort of this department. we know that Abuja is a green city, trees are being planted daily to accommodate more buildings,” he added.

The sildlines of the event also withness the planting of trees in the FCT parks and recreation centre.

The National Association of Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation of Nigeria (NACPDEAN), says it is committed to sustainable forest development that would address high forests deficit in Nigeria.

The President of the association, Mr Babatunde Edu, said this on Saturday in Kaduna during the inauguration of Kaduna State officials of the association.

He said, that their focus is to ensure planting of trees and establishment of more private indigenous plantations of economic trees.

The association was also working towards creation of industrial alternative charcoal that is not made from wood.

According to him, though Nigeria has earned as much as over 73.2 million U.S. dollars in charcoal trade as at 2019, their focus is to ensure sustainable environment.

The association also held sensitisation on its activities that centred around the theme, “Advocacy on Sustainable Afforestation and Reforestation for Kaduna State Posterity.”

NACPDEAN was established to streamline the sector and ensure orderliness in the conduct of charcoal commodity business within and outside the country.

“It is important to inform you of the high level of forests deficit gaps in Nigeria according to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

“Reports from the Global Forest Watch indicates that, between 2001 and 2021, Nigeria lost 1.14 million hectares of trees cover as a result of the several activities like industrial agriculture and food, which takes 80% of deforestation.

“Logging, petroleum exploration, urban development, forest burning, grazing and other activities are involved in deforestation as well,” Edu said.

He explained that from 1960 to early 70s when attention was paid to the sector, export of wood products and agricultural commodities provided more than 70% of the country’s GDP.

“Based on the above point, NACPDEAN was formed to enforce compliance of tree planting in the charcoal sector,” Edu said.

He said that the global wood charcoal market revenue amounted to $24.2 billion in 2018, and has remained relatively unchanged since then.

“In production as at 2019, Nigeria is ranked the second largest producer in the world with 4.5 million tonnes after Brazil with 5.5 million tonnes, and first in Africa, with a combined 28% share of global production by FAO,” he added.

According to him, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) ranked Nigeria 8th in global wood charcoal consumption in 2019.

Edu believes that with proper planning, Nigeria will earn much foreign exchange from the global charcoal market, without hurting the environment.

“The main objective of the association is for the nation to have abundant forest cover and sustainable forest development,” he added.

Edu said during the inauguration of new officials of the association for Kaduna State, that the task before them was to curb deforestation.

“Our plan in Kaduna state is to put in more efforts in curbing forest crime, deforestation, and achieving afforestation with adequate revenue earnings.

“And boosting the sub-sector to yield more employment and empowerment for our members, stakeholders, communities, and the government of Kaduna state,” the association president said.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General of NACPDEAN, Mr Kngsley Amadi, appealed to Kaduna State Government to facilitate compliance of stakeholders to afforestation policy.

Amadi urged the government to provide the association with land across the state for its afforestation and reforestation project.

He said the government should also enforce compliance to Afforestation Pass and Right.

This, he said, is a compulsory requisite for charcoal stakeholders, to champion sustainability drive and adherence to the newly revised charcoal guidelines.

In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, represented by the state Director of Forestry, Mr Hassan Chumbi, urged them to embrace modern ways of producing charcoal without degrading the environment.

He said that the government would partner with them to ensure the success their afforestation and reforestation project in the state.

The Director-General of Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Mr Obadiah Nkon, says the office increased revenue generation to about N18 billion from 2019 to May 2023.

Nkon said that out of the amount, N4.3 billion was generated in 2021 alone, being the highest collection in a year since the inception of the MCO.

According to him, the MCO has recorded tremendous achievements in the last four years, from 2019 to date.

“The key among the achievements include upgrading of the SIGTIM software to the web-based online mineral title administration and management, which is the electronic mining cadastre system.

“The electronic mining cadastre system (eMC+) was unveiled to stakeholders on Nov. 1, 2022 to improve service delivery.

“The eMC+ will also ensure transparency and accessibility of information,” he said.

The D-G said that the adoption of digitalisation was key to reducing operational cost and further reduce impediments to trade and access to market to both government and private business operators.

He said that the office had participated in numerous local and international conferences, such as London Mines and Money, Australia Down Under, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) to woo prospective investors.

“Other conferences include participating in African Mining Indaba, Capetown, South Africa.

“Participation in the conferences has served as a dependable platform for attracting foreign investment to the mining sector.

“The office has as well increased in mineral title application submission by investors in the mineral sector.”

Nkon also said that the MCO had completed e-recording and archiving of mineral title documents ready for integration into the eMC+ online system.

He said that the office had also recorded achievements in the areas of acquisition, geo-referencing and geocoding of topographic maps of Nigeria for integration into the mining cadastre digital database.

According to him, the office has been able to produce thematic mapping of mineral title restricted in protected areas in Nigeria mining cadastre digital database.

“The MCO is working more closely with other departments and agencies of the Mines and Steel Development Ministry, for synergy and cooperation in the sector.

“We have established offices in six geo-political zones of the country with creation of the press and Research, Development and Sustainability units at the headquarters.

“This is to effectively enhance the sector for efficiency and transparency of the office activities across the country,”he said.