President Bola Tinubu has called for collective action from citizens, stakeholders, institutions, and development partners to protect the environment and ensure a transition to a prosperous, clean economy.
In his message marking the 2024 World Environment Day, themed “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” Tinubu highlighted the significance of these issues for Nigeria, where drought poses a serious threat to parts of the country.
World Environment Day, established by the United Nations during the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, aims to raise awareness of environmental issues. According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, 40% of the planet’s land is degraded, affecting half of the global population. Additionally, the number and duration of droughts have increased by 29% since 2000, with projections indicating that without urgent action, droughts could affect over three-quarters of the world’s population by 2050.
In a statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, it was noted that President Tinubu, committed to Nigeria’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, has established the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, which he chairs. This committee oversees the nation’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts as well as green economy initiatives.
Tinubu has also approved the establishment of Nigeria’s first Green Industrial Zone, Evergreen City, which aims to become Africa’s leading manufacturing hub for renewable energy technologies, green solutions, and climate-adaptation technologies.
Reiterating his commitment to planting 25 million trees by 2030, Tinubu emphasized that this initiative will not only protect the environment but also create opportunities for Nigeria’s youth within the green economy value chain.
The President called for proactive measures to protect land and ecosystems through afforestation, water conservation, and the cessation of indiscriminate tree felling. He stressed that healing the land and its people is essential to healing the world.
