The Federal Government has announced plans to bolster the country’s security framework with the aim of reclaiming the nation’s forests. Balarebe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, disclosed this during a high-level management retreat held in Kaduna on Thursday.
The retreat focused on the theme: “Policy Embodiment and Prioritization of Key Action for a Renewed Hope in Environmental Management.”
The minister highlighted that the forests have turned into havens for bandits, poachers, and kidnappers, thereby impeding the nation’s advancements in the 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 centered 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.
