The Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey has said that the Ministry is exploring opportunities to sign a tripartite agreement on Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) with forest based communities and interested State Governments.
Mr. Odey stated this while signing a memorandum of understanding with Global Oxygen Development Corporation (GODC) on REDD.
Mr. Odey observed that REDD is an important programme of the Federal Government adding that the execution of the MOU will be closely monitored to ensure its success. He urged GODC to work assiduously towards meeting the Ministry’s dream of being REDD compliant, saying “the success of REDD in Nigeria will guarantee its overall success in Africa.”
Speaking earlier, Chairman GODC, Mr. Ron Wilkins expressed his company’s readiness to meet up with the Ministry’s expectation. He said GODC “is committed to the MOU and very desirous to impact positively on the community” adding, the company was ready to start its operation in Nigeria given the leadership position of the country in Africa and REDD.
The federal Ministry of Environment has called on Nigerians to practice basic sanitation habits. Speaking at a consultative meeting on Multi –sector partnership on sanitation and Hygiene practices in Nigeria, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Mr. Biodun Olorunfemi said “environmental sanitation remains one of the major challenges affecting the socio-economic development of Nigeria.” He noted that sanitation account for over 70% of disease burden which has impacted negatively on the pace of development especially in the health sector.
Mr. Olorunfemi called on the states and local governments to key into the six components of environmental sanitation programmes which he noted has been in force since 2005. According to him, “the Ministry is in the process of repositioning the environmental Health Officers registration Council (EHORECON) in order to regulate its practice in the Country.”
