If The FG’s Climate, Environmental Agenda Would Succeed, Lagos Must Not Fail As Its The “Barometer” for Which The International Community Gauges Nigeria- Salako
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has said that the climate and environmental agenda of the federal government are not likely to succeed if the efforts being made in Lagos fail. The Minister stated this in his keynote address at the Lagos State Sustainability Summit held at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Thursday, September 12, 2024. Salako said Lagos is the barometer for which the international community often gauges Nigeria because its the economic and commercial capital of Nigeria, the most densely populated and unarguably the most diverse state of the country. He said if Lagos gets it right, it can easily percolate best practices to other parts of the country.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment is excited to be part of this summit and hope that it will springboard sustainability and resilience across the country. I congratulate the organisers of this commendable initiative and look forward to a conscientious implementation of all its recommendations. This summit is a pivotal moment in Lagos State’s journey towards a sustainable and resilient future with the gathering and participation of policy makers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists and other seasoned stakeholders who will deliberate and proffer solutions to secure and sustain Lagos long-term prosperity through diversity of perspectives and expertise. I am happy to observe that Lagos State remains a leading light in our country in applying innovative solutions to address societal problems including in the environment sector. I therefore congratulate His Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu and his team for sustaining the tradition of Lagos as the centre of excellence.
“Human activities as we know is at the core of the challenges being faced by the world with respect to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Lagos, the most densely populated city in Nigeria and Africa and the eighth in the world is therefore faced with a higher level of environmental sustainability challenges requiring innovative and frontal attention from all stakeholders including the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Environment strongly believes that our climate and environmental agendas are not likely to succeed if we fail in Lagos. The challenges of coastal erosion, solid waste management, air pollution, flooding, over-exploitation, industrial emission, noise pollution and so which are generally more in Lagos than the national average must therefore be tackled head on for us to built a sustainable and resilient Lagos.
“The theme of this summit: ‘’Building a Thriving and Sustainable Lagos’’ holds a special importance for us in the environmental sector to ensure that we balance development with the preservation and conservation of our natural resources for current and future generations. Lagos State and our country Nigeria can not thrive without economic development and economic development can also not happen without profound modifications in our environment with a high potential for deforestation, pollution, desertification and the extinction of species”, the Minister noted.
He said the production of goods and services, transportation, recreation and our every day activities are the major drivers of global warming through emission of green house gases. In order to achieve sustainable development, Salako said we must decouple environmental pressure from economic growth and development. He said there is need for creation of mechanisms for achieving maximum developmental gains with minimal environmental pains and synchronise our development agenda in harmony with nature.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment as the chief environmental watchdog of our nation is determined to deliver on its mandate of promoting sustainable use of natural resources, restoring and maintaining the ecosystem, ecological processes and preserving biodiversity using a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder, across government and across society approach. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment which we have mandate over is the entry point for mainstreaming environmental sustainability into developmental projects and ensuring that we develop in harmony with nature. Through ESIA, the Federal Government is able to ensure that benefits of developmental projects are maximised while providing measures to mitigate the negative consequences of such project.
He said environmental and Social Impact Assessment is a mandate that must be taken very seriously because of the importance it holds for ensuring sustainability.
“From January 2024 till date, over 300 project’s ESIA from various sectors such as oil and gas, infrastructure, mining, manufacturing, renewable energy and agriculture has been registered and are at various stages in the ESIA process. Let me use this opportunity to reiterate that the EIA act CAP E12 Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004 made EIA mandatory for both public and private sectors for all development projects to ensure protection of natural resources and ecosystems, promote sustainable use of resources, control pollution and mitigate climate change effects. In order to strengthen our hands and ensure that no development project in Nigeria escapes the scrutiny of sustainability through ESIA, the ministry is already approaching the Federal Executive Council to block identified loopholes that people may want to exploit to escape the full scale of impact assessment.
“Through the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) we also enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in Nigeria as well as ensure compliance with multilateral environmental agreements, protocols, conventions and treaties that our country is signatory to. Using a multiplicity of strategies like setting minimum standards, compliance enforcement, periodic environmental audit, regular monitoring and creating public awareness, we are able put sustainable environmental management at the centre of the implementation of our national development plans.”
The Minister said circular economy drives sustainability by optimising resources, reducing consumption and recovering waste.
” In line with the priority agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, The Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap has been developed to provide a direction for the just transition from linear to circular economy by 2050. Circular transition has been happening in our country before now but not at scale and in pockets of silos as governments at various tiers and the private sector implements initiatives in this direction. Let me use this opportunity to inform this esteem gathering that with the development of the Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap, a national implementation framework that recognises local contexes and is backed by necessary legislation is being worked on to scale up circularity in our country, thus improving our sustainability index as a nation and maximising the economic potentials of circularity for job creation. I call on all stakeholders, public and private sectors to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment in the implementation of the roadmap.”
He said the journey towards sustainability would not be without its challenges, but it is a journey that is worth it in every respect. He said such requires a multi-sectorial and multi-stakeholders approach and participation involving government, organized private sector, the academia, civil society organizations, community-based associations and the entire Nigerian citizens.
Salako commended the Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and other sister agencies for their foresight in convening the summit and for their dedication in promoting sustainable development in Lagos State.
“Sustainable Development is at the core of the 8 presidential priorities and a recurrent theme of the Renewed Hope Agenda. For us therefore, this summit is not just a dialogue but a spring board for decisive actions that will shape the future of Lagos, which in the long run will translate into a prosperous, equitable and environmentally sound Nigeria. Let us use this opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and inspire one another to action. By putting on our sustainability cap, we can create a healthier, safer and more productive Lagos State and Nigeria and achieve our long term economic growth without jeopardizing the future generations. Together, we can build a Lagos State that not only thrives economically but also serves as a model of sustainability for the entire nation and beyond”, the Minister said.
Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that sustainability has always been central to his administration’s developmental agenda and that the Lagos Climate Action Plan sets ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, which will mobilize resources towards green projects.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity to build a Lagos that is resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive. He sustainability is not just about the environment but about creating a city that works for everyone, adding that the future his administration envisions for the state is one where no one is left behind.
Lagos State government used the occasion to launch Carbon Registry to track and manage the state’s carbon emissions, providing a critical tool for mitigating climate change and fostering environmental sustainability.
