REPORT ON THE 1ST NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT HELD AT ABUJA ON 20TH -21ST OCTOBER, 2008.

A REPORT TO  HIS EXCELLENCY,RT. HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, RIVERS STATE FROM THE HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMEN ON THE SUBJECT: REPORT ON THE 1ST NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT HELD AT ABUJA ON 20TH -21ST OCTOBER, 2008.

DATE: 4TH DECEMBER, 2008.

1.0 Aim of the Summit.

The Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development organized the 1st National Environment Summit at Abuja on 20th – 21st October, 2008 with the overall goal to mainstream environmental issues into the National priorities of Nigeria’s development and collate critical inputs for the formulation of a National Environmental Action Plan.

The main theme of the Summit is Greening the Environment for Sustainable Economic Development.

2.0. Opening Session.

The opening ceremony was performed by the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua, GCFR, who was ably represented by the Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, GCON.

In attendance were some Executive Governors, Deputy Governors, Hon. Ministers, State Commissioners, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on MDGs, the Resident Representative of the UNDP and members of the Diplomatic Corps. Also present were Permanent Secretaries, Chief Executives of Paraststals, Directors, Experts, Representatives of Research Institutes, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and members of the Academia. The Honourable Minister of Environment, Housing & Urban Development, Arc. Halima Tayo Alao hosted the Summit.

The Hon. Minister of Environment, Housing & Urban Development presented a welcome address which was followed by Gooodwill Messages by the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris on behalf of the Chairman of the Governor’ Forum, Hon. Minister of State (1) for Agriculture & Water Resources, Mr Demola Serki, Hon. Minister of State (11) for Education, Hajiya Aisha Dukku and the Resident Representative of the UNDP, His Excellency Dr Alberic Kacou.

A background paper on the Stae of Environment in Nigeria was presented by Prof. O. Ojo of the University of Lagos. The keynote Address was delivered by the Vice President on behalf of the President on the theme Environment Imperative for the 7- Point Agenda. This was followed by the signing of the National Environment Pledge by the President who was represented by the Vice President, Executive Governors present, Deputy Governors and Commissioners responsible for environment matters on behalf of the Governors. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing & Urban Development, Mr Otaki M. Oyigbenu, OON, mni gave a Vote of Thanks.

3.0 Plenary Sessions.

The Summit had five plenary sessions during which papers were presented on the following themes:

i. State of the Environment and the Economy.

ii. Contemporary Environment and Development Issues;

iii. Sustainable Development and Financing Environmental Management.

The Summit, after exhaustive discussion of each paper, broke up into 12 Working Groups for Technical discussions of 19 sub- themes.

4.0 Observations.

The Summit made several observations, including but not limited to the following:

i. Environmental summits and similar meetings provide excellent opportunities for knowledge sharing and decision making for joint national actions.

ii. The Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing & Urban Development has been doing a lot within the limited funds available to it to address environmental problems;

iii. The Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing 7 Urban Development deserves commendation for establishing linkage centres for research and development with a number of Nigerian Universities;

iv. Environmental education and awareness as well as partnership arrangements play crucial roles in environmental management and protection.

v. The National Policy on Environment has been revised and work is on to provide necessary legal backing for its operationalization;

vi. Partnership and collaboration at various levels are necessary for management of trans-boundary ecosystems;

vii. There is a low level of domestication of some of the Environmental Conventions and Protocols to which Nigeria is a signatory;

viii. There is overlap of functions among Government Ministries/Departments/Agencies responsible for environmental management and protection;

ix. Many existing environmental laws and regulations in the country are due for review;

x. Inadequate institutional and human resources specifically to tackle environmental issues in the country;

xi. Popular participation which is vital in the management of projects for environmental management and protection is very low.

5.0 Recommendations

The Summit made the following recommendations:

i) The Environment Summit should hold every two years and States are encouraged to replicate it;

ii) The establishment of an Environment Development Bank for funding of environmental protection and management;

iii) The need to strengthen the existing Federal Ministry Environment, Housing & Urban Development and the University Linkage Centres on environmental research and development;
iv) The Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing & Urban Development should collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to resuscitate the Integrated Coastal Area Management Initiative;

v) The Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing & Urban Development should collaborate effectively with the National Orientation Agency for involvement in environmental awareness and education;

vi) The revised National Policy on Environment, which is more participatory in nature needs to be backed up by appropriate law(s) and that the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly should expedite action accordingly;

vii) Trans-boundary environment management and governance should be tackled through bilateral and multilateral organizations such as ECOWAS, Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation, Gulf of Guinea Commission and the Lake Chad Basin Commission;

viii) Government, as a matter of urgency, should expedite action on the domestication of Environmental Conventions and Protocols;

ix) There should be strong definition of functions, roles and responsibilities among ministries, agencies and departments involved in environmental protection and management;
x) Existing laws and regulations governing environmental management should be reviewed;

xi) Judges and Lawyers should be adequately trained to handle environmental matters,

xii) Special courts to handle environmental issues should be created;

xiii) The construction of Dams should be pursued with the ultimate caution and strong consultation with all stakeholders, particularly the downstream States;

xiv) Government should vigorously pursue the implementation of afforestation programmes towards meeting the 25% cover of total land area of the country as recommended by the FAO;

xv) The issue of environment-population linkages must be properly considered in the recommendations;

xvi) The Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development should, as a matter of urgency, review or develop a National Environmental Action Plan the implementation of which should accelerate the conservation and sustainable use of the country’s environmental resources;

xvii) Government should adequately fund projects and programmes for flood, erosion, desertification and environmental problems that can impede sustainable development in the country.

6.0 Consideration:

His Excellency is humbly invited to note:

1. That an eight member team from the Ministry led by the Hon. Commissioner participated at the 1st National Environment Summit held at Abuja on 20th -21st December, 2008.

2. That in view of the outcome of the Summit and in consideration of the environmental status of the State, it may be necessary to convene a State Summit on Environment to address plethora of environmental problems facing the State.

3. That, since it was absolutely necessary for the State to attend, the Ministry sourced the sum of Four Million Five Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Naira (N4,514,000.00) only to participate at the Summit.

9.0 Prayer:

His Excellency is hereby respectfully requested to :

1. Approve the convening of a State Summit on Environment to address environmental problems facing the State.

2.Approve and direct the Honourable Commissioner of Finance to release the sum of Four Million Five Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Naira (N4,514,000.00) only to this Ministry for its participation at the 1st National Environment Summit at Abuja.

Respectfully submitted for His Excellency’s approval please.

O. K. CHINDA ESQ,

HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER

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