In the framework of addressing environmental issues arising in Nigeria, the Federal Government has approved a Revised National Policy on Environment, revealed outgoing Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed (photo).

Mohammed, who was recently appointed Deputy Secretary General at the United Nations (UN), disclosed this after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

“We took a memo to council for the Revised National Policy on Environment which was first formulated in 1991 and last revised in 1999. It has become imperative that we have this new policy framework because what we really wanted to do is to capture some of the emerging issues such as climate change, coastal erosion, desertification, erosion, pollution and insecurity which have been exacerbated by the struggles for environment resources,” she said.

She added that the policy establishes a much better opportunity to engage with states, local governments and communities as well as execute the priorities of the Change agenda.

“We looked at the importance of funding of many of the issues that have come out. So the policy itself seeks to find many ways for financial framework to bring resources to the different aspect that is talking about power; renewable energy is a big opportunity for us as we exit out of fossil fuels,” she added.

Anita Fatunji