NESREA partners UNECA on greening Africa project

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is partnering with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in the promotion of sustainable, social and economic transformation of Green Economy in Africa.

Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, who spoke at a seminar organized by NESREA, in collaboration with UNECA, in Abuja, said the partnership is expected to ensure cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians.

She commended the commission for producing a comprehensive report that would serve as a vehicle for the promotion of sustainable, social and economic transformation of Africa economy.

Speaking on the partnership, the minister said: “It is a good business that would sustain the economy as well as create jobs for the teeming youths in the continent and thanked them for choosing Nigeria as one of the countries where the project is to be launched soon.

“Although the environment is a source of raw materials, energy, and life support system; it has come under serious threat arising from man’s quest for economic and social development. The source of these developments include water, air and industrial pollution, biodiversity loss, erosion, flooding, land degradation, deforestation, desertification and ozone depletion, ” she added.

According to her, “We need to find a way to put less pressure on the environment and ecosystems and one of the ways is to be environmentally conscious, bearing in mind the concept of sustainable consumption and production, coupled with the findings of the UNECA Report.”

In his remarks, NESREA Director-General, Dr. Lawrence Anukam drew attention to the bill establishing NESREA Act No. 25, 2007, which clearly affirmed its mandate to partner with relevant government agencies both within and outside the country to ensure cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians.

He explained that the current meeting with stakeholders would further strengthen collaboration with the Commission for sustainable protection of the environment. “Even the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, attendant decline in agriculture and other economic activities globally, the way forward is to give attention to industrialization, especially green industrialization”, Anukam added.

Earlier, the lead speaker, Mr. Kayode Oluwagbuyi, in his paper presentation on Greening the economy, said the industry would promote sustainable pattern of production and consumption, as well as energy efficient, low carbon and waste, non-polluting and safe, and will produce products that will be responsibly manage throughout their life cycle.

Mr. Oluwagbuyi, also disclosed others greening industries that would promote security, health and safety of jobs, reducing cost through improved productivity. He listed initiatives such as collaborations, capacity building, institutional support; setting industry based standards, education outreach and links to research laboratories as some of the strategies that could enhance the greening industrialization process in Nigeria.
 
Ministries, Departments, Agencies, UNIDO, UNDP, World Bank and some NGOs attended the seminar. The stakeholders at the end affirmed a smooth compliance regime, which combines promotion, monitoring and enforcement, and developing technical capacity for greening exercise.