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Tasks before Nigeria’s new minister of environment

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2 years ago

Amidst some drama, Abbas Lawal Balarabe, President’s Bola Tinubu’s nominee as Minister of Environment, was recently confirmed by the Senate. PAUL OMOROGBE considers the issues he should tackle in Nigeria’s environment sector.

Nigeria has its fair share of environmental issues, like every other nation in the world, that have significantly impacted on its people and ecosystems. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “In Nigeria, as elsewhere, these environmental problems hinder efforts to achieve sustainable development.”

Some of the key environmental issues in Nigeria include deforestation, desertification, oil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, waste management, open defecation, and of course climate change. These are a selection of challenges Abbas Lawal Balarabe will have tackle now that he is the minister of environment.

Environmental issues in Nigeria

“Environmental issues did not gain official prominence in Nigeria until the 1988 Koko toxic waste dumping saga, which also highlighted the urgent need to establish the Nigeria Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), the Federal Ministry of Environment, and other relevant agencies in the country, ostensibly to address environmental issues,” Chinyere Adaku Onuoha, Nnaemeka Chinedu, Edache Ochekwu and Philip Onuoha, noted in their paper titled: ‘Environmental Challenges Awareness in Nigeria: A Review.’

The paper added that “Environmental pollution has been connected to human activities and, to a lesser extent, long-term human contact with the environment. Environmental abuse and pollution are intensified when a country’s population grows, putting strain on the environment, particularly in the wake of improved technologies, with corresponding consequences on people’s lives and other living organisms.

With Nigeria’s population of about 200 million, the researchers added that “The overgrowing Nigeria’s population is negatively affecting the environment. As the population increases, there is a need for shelter, food, and survival. Hence, since the land area does not increase, there is competition among the growing population within the same land area.”

The wait

For about two months, Nigerians had to wait to know who would be appointed minister of environment, after the minister of state for the environment, Dr Ishaq Salako, along with other substantive ministers of state were announced.

During the waiting period, a young environmentalist, Seyifunmi Adebote, bore his mind on what kind of person should be made minister of environment.

He said, “Nigeria has the potential to lead when it comes to climate conversations first on the African continent, and to be a model across the world. A lot of this will rely on who the minister of environment is. In the past, we have seen ministers being assigned based on their political affiliation, or based on personal relationship or some sort of compensation. While that is politics, I believe we can still find competent people that still tick the boxes.

“My expectation is that the minister when announced will be someone who can relate with the position of young people considering how young people are the leading voices not just in advocacy but in providing solutions surrounding climate change and other environmental issues.”

He also added that the minister of environment should be someone with some experience in the environment sector and who is familiar with the relevant international bodies, laws and conventions.

However, President Bola Tinubu forwarded Abbas Lawal Balarabe to the Senate for confirmation last week Tuesday.

Balarabe, a 65-year-old man from Kaduna, replaced former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, following the Senate’s refusal to confirm as minister in August.

His appearance before the Senate last Wednesday for screening was not without some drama as he fainted while standing at the podium shortly after introducing himself and stating some of his achievements. He was later revived and confirmed that day by the Senate.

Balarabe, from Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, is said to hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1981 and also a Master’s degree in Political Science from the same university in 1986.

Shortly after Nigeria’s return to democracy in May 1999, Balarabe worked as a Special Assistant to the Federal Minister of Education in Abuja, between September 1999 and February 2001. From February 2001 to May 2003, he worked as a Special Assistant to the Minister of State (Army) at the Ministry of Defence.

He then worked as a Special Assistant to the President in the Federal Capital Territory and as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, among other positions held, from July 2003 until July 2007.

He became Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna under El-Rufai’s administration from 2015 to 2023.

Tasks before the minister

Environmentalists from civil society and the private sector say that the new minister has his work cut out for him.

“The task before the new minister for environment is enormous since this sector guarantees the health of our environment,” said Philip Jakpor, an environmentalist based in Lagos.

He added that, “However we hope he will work with experts to deliver on his mandate. Some of the pressing issues waiting for him include ensuring Nigeria is on course in meeting its climate commitments, growing demand for a comprehensive environment audit in the Niger Delta and desertification in the north.

“He must also navigate the intersections between his ministry and other ministries.”

In his own opinion, Nnimmo Bassey, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), stated that “His first assignment should be to review the state of the Nigerian environment, including touring the nation by road.

“Next step would be to declare an environmental emergency across the nation. Then he can draw up a hierarchy of critical areas and set up an agenda that his successors can continue with. This agenda should include ensuring that every other ministry sees the intersectional nature of the environment and deal accordingly.

“The Federal Government should see the environment as the backbone of our socioeconomic life.

“He should pay special attention to the plunder and Ecocide in the extractive sector (oil, gas, coal, solid minerals).

“The overhaul to excise vested interests in the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) as well as National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to free Nigeria from the onslaught of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) purveyors is overdue.”

According to Gboyega Olorunfemi, an environment and sustainability expert, the “minister of environment at this time has his work cut out for him – in the face of biting micro-economic factor and emerging global events.

“The first line of action,” Olorunfemi said, “will be to track climate change integration into existing action plan of the new administration and present a position for Nigeria going to COP28.”

He added that the new minister ought to “make the Climate Change Act 2021 to be domesticated across states.

“The National Council on Climate Change (NCC) has to galvanise the much needed international attention and resources.

“Nigeria needs an inclusive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) – from local governments to state governments that will enable Nigeria have a holistic view of its environmental challenges.

“After NAP, there is now a need to invest in a Nigeria National Agenda for Environment that will serve as negotiating ‘Tool Book’ at all global engagements. All stakeholders – civil society, private sector, development partners – will contribute to the Tool Book and it will be made available to all.

“The Tool Book will be the national instrument to mobilise resources for climate related initiatives: energy through renewable sources, climate finance, climate education, circular economy, smart agriculture whilst driving inter-ministerial synergies to tackle long standing environmental issues.”

He concluded saying that, “The voice of Nigeria is missing in the global space with regards to environmental action; this speaks clearly with regard to just transition to net zero. We must regain that confidence and be visible.”

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