By Chuks Oyema‑Aziken
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
In a press release issued by Amina Ahmed Garba, Head of Press at the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), the resolve was made at the recently concluded 18th National Council on Environment (NCE) held in Katsina.
According to Garba, the NCE resolved to continue implementing national programmes such as the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, the Great Green Wall Programme (led by Director‑General/CEO Saleh Abubakar, MFR), the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, and policies promoting renewable energy and clean cooking.
The Governor of Katsina State, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda—represented by Deputy Governor Mallam Farouk Lawal Jobe—reaffirmed the state’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability. He highlighted the Governor’s early approval of funding and sustained support that enabled the successful hosting of the council, describing the NCE as a vital platform for policy harmonization, collaboration, and coordinated action.
She said the Hon. Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal emphasized the timeliness and importance of the council’s theme, “Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis of Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.”
“He warned that rising temperatures, desertification, flooding, pollution, and ecosystem degradation are already undermining livelihoods across the country and stressed that these crises are deeply interlinked, requiring an integrated, science‑driven, and multi‑sectoral response.
“Minister Lawal commended Katsina State for its second‑place ranking in the 2025 Sub‑National Climate Governance Performance Ranking. He highlighted the state’s Green Economy Roadmap, which prioritises renewable energy, dry‑land agriculture, eco‑tourism, waste‑to‑energy solutions, and climate‑smart development, alongside plans to establish a Green Investment Fund and implement a 2025‑2030 Climate Action Plan.
“The council called for innovative financing mechanisms such as public‑private partnerships, green bonds, climate funds, and carbon markets. It encouraged stronger private‑sector engagement, identifying corporate actors like the Dangote Group and Nigeria Bottling Company as potential partners in environmental restoration and sustainability efforts.
“Commissioners responsible for the environment from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, together with development partners, academia, private‑sector stakeholders, and civil‑society organisations, deliberated on memoranda, reviewed technical submissions, and adopted resolutions expected to guide future environmental policies and interventions nationwide.
“The federal government also announced a total ban on wood export and revoked existing licences to curb deforestation, directly linking this action to climate‑change mitigation.
“The 18th NCE thus represents a coordinated national effort to address Nigeria’s environmental challenges through science‑driven, multi‑sectoral strategies, aiming to transform climate risks into opportunities for green growth and job creation,” Garba added.
