Balarabe Urges Media to Champion Climate Action, Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has urged the media to drive climate action through data-driven, solutions-focused journalism, emphasizing its pivotal role in Nigeria’s environmental sustainability.
At a media engagement workshop in Abuja themed: Engaging Media outfits on Reporting Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria,
Lawal emphasized the country’s worsening environmental crisis, citing desertification, floods, erosion, oil pollution, and climate change as major threats to livelihoods and food security.
“The environment is not an abstract concept. It is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate that shapes the future,” He said.
The Minister highlighted the government’s efforts, including restoring over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land and planting 1.5 million trees in 2025 through initiatives like ACReSAL and the Great Green Wall project.
“The media serves as the mirror through which society understands itself, the megaphone that amplifies truth, and the bridge connecting policy to the people,” Lawal said, urging journalists to elevate environmental reporting.
“Climate change and environmental degradation are immediate concerns with direct implications for agriculture, health, and the economy,” he stressed, calling for data-driven and solutions-oriented journalism.
The Minister assured journalists of improved access to environmental data and collaboration, saying, “The Federal Ministry of Environment remains committed to supporting the media.”
Lawal who called for collective action in securing the nation’s environmental future stated that “Stories told today can shape behaviour, influence policy, and inspire hope.”
The Workshop which was held in partnership with Lincoln Publications Ltd, aims to equip media professionals on the beat with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively report on environmental issues and drive climate action in Nigeria.
