Environment Minister Inaugurates UNCCD Reporting Committee, Tasks Members on Accurate Data
The Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal has inaugurated the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Reporting Technical Committee to enhance data accuracy on land degradation.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in Abuja recently, the Minister described the committee’s role as critical to preventing further land degradation. He stressed that land is not only for infrastructure but also for food cultivation, adding that “if it’s degraded, the end might be disastrous,” Lawal said.
According to him, the committee is vital for providing the necessary and accurate data required to mitigate land degradation.
He urged members to work hand-in-hand with environmental stakeholders, agencies, and departments to recover degraded areas.
“The central goal of this committee is a reporting task,” Lawal stated, charging members to produce data that are workable, reliable, and capable of curbing land degradation.
The Minister disclosed that promoting alternative cooking methods would encourage the planting of more trees and, on the other hand, reduce deforestation — one of the key ways to mitigate land degradation.
Lawal, who described the selection process for the committee as rigorous, noted that their role is critical to land recovery, andlll implored members to be committed and resolute in discharging their duties.
Earlier, in her opening address, the Director, Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Management (DLD & DM), Mrs. Regina Nwaneri, stated that the inauguration marked an important milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Convention and strengthening national efforts to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought.
Nwaneri noted that the reporting process is not only a statutory obligation but also an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s progress, achievements, challenges, and ongoing interventions in sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.
The assignment before this Committee is therefore of great importance. Your expertise, dedication, and collaborative efforts will be instrumental in ensuring the delivery of a credible, comprehensive, and timely national report that reflects the true state of implementation in Nigeria,” Nwaneri stated.
A statement by Ogunjobi Matthew Olusegun, on behalf of the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, disclosed that Mrs. Regina Nwaneri expressed appreciation to the institutions represented on the committee for their continued support and commitment to the national assignment.
“It is our expectation that the Committee will work together effectively in the spirit of professionalism, partnership, and shared responsibility,” Nwaneri added
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