Nation
WED: Minister Urges Sustainable Environment
The Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, says there is need for use of natural resources to preserve and restore environmental sustainability and ecosystem.
Ikeazor said this as the ministry commemorated the 2021 World Earth Day with the theme: “Restore Our Earth” yesterday in Abuja.
She said the use of natural resources would not only restore and preserve the environment but mitigate climate change.
The World Earth Day is celebrated every April 22 and the 2021 commemoration marks 50 years of the modern environmental movement.
The movement which started in 1970 gave a voice to an emerging public consciousness about the state of the planet.
Ikeazor said that the day stimulated worldwide awareness of climate change and the environment.
She said the awareness enhanced stronger government political commitment and massive public action to address all environmental issues.
According to her, climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and life support systems that make the world habitable.
“The ministry will continue to focus on issues that enhance sustainable environment.
“We will focus on inspiring, sensitising and enlightening Nigerians to take action to mitigate climate change in line with the theme.
“This is the time to reevaluate our interaction with nature and adopt the one world one health approach,” she said.
The minister said the Federal Government had scaled up its commitment to taking action to mitigate, adapt and promote capacity for resilience to the impacts of climate change in the country.
She said the commitment was through the ratification of the Paris Agreement by President Muhammadu Buhari.
She added that the effort was to strengthen existing institutional framework to ensure effective coordination of climate change activities and other actions.
Ikeazor further said that government, in fulfilment of the Paris agreement, had developed a draft Sectoral Action Plan (SAP) for the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
“We are currently reviewing the National Policy on Climate Change for more effectiveness with readiness for Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan Framework for Climate Change (NAPs – Framework).
“Also, there is a sustained effort to sensitise Nigerians to adopt clean technologies to meet emission reduction target.
“We have as well developed the National Forest Reference Emission Factor Level (FREL) and submitted it to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time to place priority on environmental sustainability to enable us to build a healthier, more sustainable future,” she said.
The Chairman of the Osun State Park Management System (OSTMS), Comrade Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, was reportedly shot by officers of the state police command in the late hours of Monday.
The union, in a statement issued by its Secretary, Mikaela Popoola, in Osogbo, confirmed that its chairman was arrested over domestic issues and taken into police custody.
According to him, the shooting of the chairman occurred while in police custody, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting call for a thorough investigation.
The union scribe, who reiterated that the chairman was arrested over domestic issues and taken into police custody, called on members of OSTMS not to take the law into their own hands.
He stressed, “We must maintain peace across the parks while we take the matter up with the appropriate authorities.”
While confirming the shooting, a top Police officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “Alowonle was arrested in connection with the alleged killing of one Oyewale in 2022 and the assault of some residents on Monday night.
“He was shot while attempting to escape and has been taken to a hospital for treatment.”
According to him, Alowonle was maimed by the police gunshot, and a Hummer bus with registration number AWK 480YD, an unregistered Nissan Almera, and a Toyota Sienna with registration number GNN 595 XD were also recovered from him.
“During the arrest, a Barrett pistol, six rounds of 9mm live ammunition, and one expended empty shell were recovered from Alowonle’s private unregistered Toyota Highlander jeep,” the officer said.
“Alowonle and his boys conveyed themselves in a Previn bus with registration number RBC 275XK, but a distress call to the police led to his arrest. He was rearrested at Susi area of Oke-Baale, Osogbo, alongside eight others before being taken to the state police command.”
Meanwhile, all possible efforts made to reach the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, for comment on the incident proved abortive as calls put to her mobile phone were not answered.
The Rivers State Police Command has announced that its operatives neutralised a suspected kidnapper and cultist, identified as Gbarani Bume, in the Luawii Community of Khana Local Government Area (LGA).
Bume, also known as Pelele, was a member of the infamous Iceland cult group, which has been terrorising the Beree/Tabaa axis of Khana LGA along with his gang.
Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Iringe-Koko said that Pelele and his gang attempted to kidnap a site engineer working in Luawii when the police, acting on a tip-off, swooped in. Upon sighting the police, the suspects opened fire, but Pelele was fatally wounded after a fierce exchange of gunfire and later died.
The statement reads: “The Rivers State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat crime, neutralising a notorious cultist and kidnapper, Gbarani Bume, a.k.a. Pelele, a native of Bere Community in Khana LGA.
“He was a member of the Iceland Cult Group, which has been terrorising the Beree/Tabaa axis of Khana LGA.
“On the 15th of November 2024, operatives from the Bori Division, acting on a tip-off, were mobilised to Luawii Community where Pelele and his gang were attempting to kidnap a site engineer.
“Upon sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, resulting in a fierce crossfire, during which Pelele was fatally wounded. His accomplices escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds.
“Items recovered from the suspect include one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 10 rounds of live ammunition.”
She added, “An investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the other fleeing gang members and bring them to justice.”
The state police spokesperson stated that this operation underscores the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and ensuring public safety in the state.