Reps inaugurate committee for National Stakeholder’s Summit on Environment

The Technical Committee fo the proposed National Stakeholder’s Summit on Environment on legislative framework for environmental law and policy has been inaugurated by the House of Representatives.

Obinna Chidoka, chairman, House Committee on Environment and Habitat who inaugurated the committee at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, disclosed that the Summit will take place between 3rd and 5th October, 2017 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

According to him, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by a member of the Presidential cabinet, is to preside over the Townhall meeting on Environment during the Summit.

“We are very conscious of the grave threats posed by such issues as global warming, climate change, desertification, oil spillage, erosion, este management and gas flaring, etc. In the context of the House Committee on Environment, we realize the importance of ensuring that our legislative framework on environment is robust a d comprehensive to sustain a virile policy framework for the environment governnave and management,” Chidoka stressed.

While soliciting for the cooperation of various stakeholders toward successful Summit, he expressed optimism that, “as experts and practitioners in the industry, with hands of experience, your contribution will greatly enhance our ideation of the summit. Governments and international organizations (IOs) across the world have mad significant and widespread progress in development of polices and frameworks to meet the dynamic and increasing social, economic and environmental needs of mankind. Nigeria, has not been left behind in this respect.

“As a way of complementing the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria in advancing the fortunes of our environment, the House of Representatives, in furtherance of its commitment to ensure a comprehensive overhaul of the legislative framework for the environment in Nigeria, has proposed a national stakeholders summit on environmental law and policy,” Chidoka said.

According to him, the Summit will afford participants the opportunity to interrogate relevant issues of concern on environment and contribute to the development of an appropriate legal framework to sustain a virile environment policy in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Chukwudi Oracle Nwala, of LAPIN Reform explained that the thematic session will look at the impact of the BrownHouse on water, pollution, industrialization, agriculture, oil and gas impact on environment as well as Greenhouse impact on natural resources, biodiversity, forestry, wildlife, fishery and conservative as well as various regulatory framework with the view to ensure effective management of environment.

Nwala who doubles as Summit Coordinator, also underlined the need to evaluate the impact of the extant polices and programmes; identify the missing link and recommend relevant amendments and repeal and re-enactment of laws where necessary.

The experts also emphaised the need for government at all levels to prioritize adequate funding for environment considering its contributions to national economy and development, adding that annual budget for environemtn should be second largest after security allocation.

Other experts nominated into the Technical Committee are: LAPIN Reform; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); World Bank; United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency; Ecological Fund office, among others.