THE 10TH NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENT (NCE) HELD AT LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE, 15TH TO 19TH AUGUST, 2016

COMMUNIQUE

Introduction

The 10th National Council on Environment (NCE) was held at the Taal Conference Hotel Lafia, Nasarawa State on the 18th of August, 2016. It was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed with the theme ENVIRONMENT AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) IN NIGERIA – Empowering People, Taking Climate Action and Protecting the Environment The Council meeting was preceded by the National Technical Committee session from 15th  17th August, 2016 at the same venue chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Bukar Hassan with Permanent Secretaries of State Ministries of Environment, CSOs and other delegates from the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).  In attendance, the Hon. Minister of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed and the Hon. Minister of State, Environment accompanied by other dignitaries paid courtesy call on His Excellency, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-makura and His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Isa Mustapha Agwai I, CFR, the Emir of Lafia and Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs.   A key outcome of the courtesy call was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Government of Nasarawa State.

2. The opening session was declared open by the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al-makura. Also present at the ceremony were Honourable Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina. J. Mohammed; Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Deputy Governor Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Silas Ali Agara;  Honorable Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril; Chairman Nasarawa State House Committee on Environment, Honourable Ibrahim Bala; Commissioner of Police Nasarawa State Police Command; Director State Security Services; Secretary to the State Government Nasarawa; Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Bukar Hassan; Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Nasarawa State, Gabriel Orton Akaaka Esq; Head of Service, Nasarawa State; 36 State Commissioners for Environment; Director General/CEOs of Agencies; Directors of MDAs; Special Advisers; Royal Highnesses; Officials from Federal and State Ministries; Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs); Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); Development Partners and the Organized Private Sectors.
3. The opening ceremony featured presentation of welcome address by the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Gabriel Ortan Akaaka, Esq, goodwill messages by the Country Directors of the UNDP and UNIDO; representative of the Civil Society Organizations, Chairman Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Isa Mustapha Agwai I, CFR, the Emir of Lafia and the Chairman House Committee on Environment/Culture and Tourism, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Honourable Ibrahim  Bala.
4. The session also featured a presentation on Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for sustainable environmental management by the Honourable Minister of State, Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril Usman and an opening address by the Honourable Minister of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed, with the theme Environment and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria – Empowering People, Taking Climate Action and Protecting the Environment. The Hon. Minister of Environment extended reiterated importance of SDGs in achieving the environment sector objectives and the integration of the key issues encapsulated in the change agenda.
5. The opening session was rounded off with the Keynote address by the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al-makura.
6. The opening ceremony was followed by the Council meeting during which the report of the Technical Segment was deliberated upon and decisions were taken. The Technical Committee considered 106 memoranda, stepped down 25, and recommended 81 consisting of 52 action and 29 information memoranda respectively for Councils approval. These memoranda were submitted by the Federal and State Ministries of Environment/Agencies, NGOs/CSOs
7. Council Notes and Observations

Council deliberated extensively on all the memos and noted as follows:

The need to increase awareness on the issues of climate change; Nigeria INDC to reduce GHG emission and the implementation of programmes and projects to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change;

The growing/increasing problems of land degradation and deforestation and the need for sustainable management solutions to address these issues;

The menace of poor solid waste management and sanitation as well as other environmental pollution issues including spent oil.

Environmental governance issues such as the review of NPC and others existing policies, laws and regulating frameworks to address emerging global trends and international best practices.

Council agreed that issues related to regulations for support will best be handled through bilateral consultations.

Council reminded members that memos coming to Council should only be policy memos.

 

8. Council therefore, resolved as follows:

Urged States with increasing land degradation problems that requested for approval for funding of erosion control programmes, afforestation projects, etc that are not policy driven, to embark on bilateral consultations with relevant MDAs, including Ecological Fund Office (EFO);

Approved the programmes/projects that will help in the mitigation/adaptation of the impacts of climate change such as adoption and implementation of the renewable energy master plan, promoting renewable energy programme in schools; upgrading and repositioning climate change units in MDAs, engaging the private sector in renewable energy programmes through PPP arrangements;

Approved forestry development and afforestation programmes such as enrichment planting in our forest reserves nationwide, promoting the use of alternative source of energy, suspension of further exportation of Pterocapus Spp in Taraba State in the interim, initiation and implementation of Bamboo and rattan value chain development in the States;

Urged the Eleven (11) participating frontline States to strongly support the NAGGW programme by providing adequate annual budgetary allocation, provision of land, enhancing community sensitization and mobilization and technical support;

Encouraged States to fully participate in the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility Program (EPR) nationwide.

Urged States to relocate Forestry Department and other related environmental Departments in Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Health Officers in Health Ministries to States Ministries of Environment.

Approved installation of automated web based flood early warning equipment in flood prone communities nationwide, where there is none presently;

Approved Re-introduction of National monthly Environmental Sanitation Day.

Approved the implementation of National requirements and guidelines on registration of Environment friendly Products and Eco-Labeling and encourage manufacturing companies to buy-in into the scheme.

Urged the Federal Ministry of Environment to develop National guideline/regulations on efficient management of spent oil in Nigeria and pilot schemes in six (6) geo-political zones.

Hosting of Subsequent editions of Council meeting

Council confirmed the next stream of hosting States would be agreed after due consultations.

Appreciation

Council appreciated and commended the Government of Nasarawa State for the successful hosting of the 10th NCE, and expressed appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality extended to delegates.   The Council also extended appreciation and gratitude to the Governor of Nasarawa State for graciously approving the provision of Office Accommodation for NESREA Field Office in Lafia, Nasarawa State.  The Council further appreciated the Governor for providing a millennium park, and directing every political appointee to plant 10 trees.

The adoption of the 10th NCE Communiqué

 

The motion for the adoption of the 10th NCE communiqué was moved by the Hon. Commissioner of Ogun State, Bolaji Oyeleye and seconded by the Hon. Commissioner of Rivers State, Prof. (Mrs.) Roseline Konya.

DONE THIS DAY, FRIDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2016 AT

LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE