The Federal Government has said that it would enhance the country’s security architecture to recover the nation’s forest.
The Minister of Environment, Balarebe Lawal, revealed this at a top management retreat held in Kaduna, on Thursday
The retreat has as its theme: ‘Policy Embodiment and Prioritization of Key Action for a Renewed Hope in Environmental Management’.
The minister said the forests have become habitation grounds for bandits, poachers and kidnappers, hence slowing down the nation’s progress on its Great Green Wall Project.
Lawal said, “The nation’s wealth is threatened through the forest from oil theft, illegal mining activities and slowing the Great Green Wall Project of controlling desertification.
“The government in support of the president is working on measures to get security forces, and forest guards to flush them out while ensuring community engagement, and international collaboration.”
According to him, the retreat was necessary to collectively brainstorm strategies to address pressing issues about the operations of the Ministry now and in the coming years.
“We have signed a performance bond with Mr. President on 18-point deliverables in the priority areas that relate to our mandates so, most of our deliberations would be centred around the deliverables which is also in line with the 8-point Agenda of this Administration.”
The minister called on all the participants to put into use the knowledge acquired at the retreat while carrying out their duties.
Nigerian govt will improve security to recover forest – Minister