The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, has expressed deep concern over the persistent neglect of environmental issues in Nigeria, warning that the lack of adequate attention poses serious threats to public health, food security, and the national economy.
Speaking during a ministerial press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, Lawal lamented that environmental matters remain under-prioritised, especially within the country’s legal system. Citing the recent killing of two elephants in Borno State—believed to be among the last of the West African species—the Minister highlighted how weak environmental laws hinder efforts to secure justice in such cases.
“Environmental issues are not given the kind of attention they require in the legal system of Nigeria. Environmental crimes are not seen as serious as other crimes in our society,” he said.
He stressed the urgent need to strengthen environmental legislation and called for a unified response from both government and citizens to safeguard Nigeria’s ecological future.
“When I came in, I found so many cases, but the code of laws is not there. We need to sharpen our legal system to address environmental crimes and make them as severe as other offences,” he added.
Lawal also appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to lead the charge in advancing environmental protection.
“Environmental issues require everybody to be on board, particularly the President. We want you to be on board because the environment requires your support,” he stated.
He noted that a significant portion of the population remains unaware of the direct impacts of environmental degradation, including pollution, deforestation, and climate change, on their daily lives. He further linked environmental neglect to wider public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even the COVID issue was an environmental issue. We must educate people on how to take care of their environment,” he emphasized.
To bridge funding gaps in environmental initiatives, the Minister announced the rollout of Nigeria’s third and fourth sovereign green bonds, valued at a combined ₦250 billion. The bonds will finance clean energy and climate-resilient infrastructure projects across the country.
The third green bond, worth ₦150 billion, is scheduled for issuance in May 2025, while the fourth bond, valued at ₦100 billion, will follow in October.
According to Lawal, proceeds from the bonds will be used to support solar-powered energy in schools and hospitals, water supply systems, e-mobility, and the expansion of mini-grids in deforestation-impacted areas.
“Nigeria was the first African country to issue a sovereign green bond and the third in the world. The first and second bonds, issued in 2017 and 2019, raised ₦10.7 billion and ₦15 billion respectively,” he stated.
He assured the public that the new bonds would be better managed, with improved inter-ministerial coordination to avoid delays experienced in previous disbursements.
The Minister also announced the signing of a historic bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon on April 19, 2020, following over a decade of negotiations. The agreement is aimed at protecting shared forest reserves, including the Cross River National Park in Nigeria and the Corotho National Park in Cameroon.
In addition, the Ministry is currently spearheading several key environmental projects, including:
* Restoration of mangroves in oil-impacted areas.
* Construction of nine new water treatment plants in Rivers State.
* Planting of 20 million trees across northern Nigeria to combat desertification.
* Promotion of bamboo farming as a sustainable energy alternative in Kwara, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, and Kano States.
Lawal concluded the briefing by reaffirming that protecting Nigeria’s environment is a shared responsibility.
“Safeguarding the environment is not just a government responsibility but a collective duty for all Nigerians,” he said.
