The Federal and state governments on Wednesday renewed commitments to addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution as the 18th National Council on Environment (NCE) opened at the Bello Kofar Bai Conference Hall, State Secretariat Complex, Katsina.
Opening the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Faruk Lawal, who represented Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, said the council was a vital national platform for shaping environmental policy and strengthening cooperation among the three tiers of government.
Lawal said Katsina was honoured to host the meeting, describing it as a reflection of confidence in the state’s governance systems and peaceful environment. He assured delegates of a conducive atmosphere for deliberations, stressing that environmental sustainability remained central to the state’s development agenda.
He highlighted key interventions by the state government, including efforts to combat desertification through the raising and distribution of three million indigenous tree seedlings, promotion of the Taungya farming system, procurement of mobile sanitation equipment to improve public health, and construction of drainage systems using ecological funds to reduce flooding and erosion. He also cited investments in irrigation schemes, solar-powered water facilities and the establishment of the Katsina State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (KEWMA).
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Environment, Hamza Sule Faskari, described the council meeting as timely, noting that Nigeria was confronting the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Faskari said the gathering provided a unique opportunity for states and the Federal Government to share experiences, harmonise policies and design practical solutions to environmental challenges. He urged delegates to focus on actionable outcomes that would promote climate-smart agriculture, strengthen conservation of forests and wetlands, and enhance enforcement of environmental regulations.
“The impacts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss are already being felt in our communities through threats to food security, public health and livelihoods,” he said, adding that the council’s deliberations must translate into concrete steps that empower communities and strengthen institutions.
The commissioner commended the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector for their support, stressing that collaboration was critical to achieving sustainable environmental outcomes. He also welcomed participants to Katsina, describing the state as a centre of rich history, culture and hospitality.
In his remarks, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said resolutions from the council would guide future environmental policies, strengthen coordination among federal, state and local governments, and improve implementation through the Federal Executive Council.
He disclosed that the ministry was finalising a national “State of the Environment” report and warned that government funding alone was insufficient to address environmental challenges. He therefore urged states to explore green financing options, including public-private partnerships, green bonds, climate funds and voluntary carbon markets.
The minister announced the launch of a Presidential Executive Order prohibiting the export of wood and allied products, including charcoal, as part of efforts to curb deforestation. He stressed that effective forest protection required close collaboration with state governments, which constitutionally own forest resources.
The council, which brings together commissioners of environment and key stakeholders from across the country, is expected to adopt resolutions aimed at strengthening environmental governance and promoting sustainable development nationwide.
