Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, says the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s primary mission has been to ensure a healthy environment for the well-being of Nigerians.
He highlighted several projects undertaken by the ministry and their positive impacts so far.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s alarming deforestation rate, the minister noted efforts to restore the country’s forests.
The ministry aims to plant one million trees within the next year, with an overall target of 10 to 20 million trees in states like Kogi, Cross River, and Borno, where trees are commonly used for firewood.
He pointed out that environmental concerns are often neglected in Nigeria, but the ministry is committed to seeking justice for environmental violations and treating them as seriously as other crimes.
Pollution, particularly from chemicals, remains the most pressing environmental challenge.
However, agencies under the Ministry of Environment are actively working to tackle this issue.
Water pollution, in particular, is a major concern. While previously there was only one water treatment plant, the ministry has now constructed nine new plants in Rivers State to address this.
