FG will explore investment opportunities in environment sector ―Minister

THE Minister of Environment, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government would explore all investment opportunities abound in the environment sector.

He stated this while speaking at the 11th National Council on Environment with the theme “Unlocking the Investment Opportunities in the Environment Sector towards Nigeria’s Economic Recovery, Diversification, Growth and Sustainable Development,” in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, that many opportunities in the sector are yet to be optimally utilised.

He, therefore, called on the private sector to take advantage by investing into it so as to boost the economic growth of the country.

Jibrin listed the repositioning of the National Agency for Green Wall, Waste Management, Renewable Energy, Eco-tourism, Green Bond, Aforestation/Reforestation and implementation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report in cleaning Ogoni land, as some of the opportunities.

His words “Against the backdrop of our recent recovery from the economic recession and the global initiatives towards the use of renewable energy sources, this administration is more than ever before committed to finding alternative sources of revenue to sustain the recovery process.

“Consequently, I am inviting the private sector to seize the investment opportunities existing in the environment sector, which include repositioning of the National Agency for Great Green Wall; Waste Management; Watershed Management; Renewable Energy; Eco-Tourism; Green Bond; Afforestation/Reforestation; Implementation of UNEP Report; in order to clean Ogoni land and in the very near future the rest of the Niger Delta that are equally or even worse affected by oil pollution.

“We are implementing the UNEP Report on Ogoni land through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP); Clean-Up of Lead-contaminated sites in Shikira (Niger State) and the soon to be launched Green Bonds programme.

“We have also ratified International treaties and conventions on Climate change, signed the Minamata Convention on mercury and obtained Mr president’s signature on the instrument of ratification last week. The instrument is about to be forwarded to the United Nations (UN).”

While declaring the meeting open, the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said that the environment played an invaluable role in the growth and enhancement of the nation’s socio-economic activities.

Amosun noted that the environment provided raw materials for the production of goods and services, submitting that the resources were vital for achieving economic growth and development, not only for the present but for future generations.

Amosun noted that Climate change which often resulted from persistent damage to the ozone layer, posed a great danger to the lives of people living in the water basins, calling for concerted efforts towards ensuring the protection and sustenance of the environment.

“Our belief is that Ogun State; as the industrial and education capital of Nigeria, must not take the issue of the environment with levity if truly we want to maintain the momentum.

“In view of this, let me use this opportunity to call on corporate bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Corporate Organisations etc. in Ogun State, and in Nigeria as a whole to partner with Government as we strive towards bequeathing an environment that will provide future generations with the opportunity to survive,” he said.