TheCable

Iziaq Salako, minister of state for environment, says there is a need for strategic and evidence-based solutions to educate people on issues affecting the environment. 

According to a statement, Salako spoke when he received members of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society in his office, in Abuja.

The team was led by Akinade Olatunji, the president of the society.

The minister noted that the environment drives our health, adding that it also determines the livelihoods of people.

He commended Olatunji and his team while assuring them that the ministry is ready to partner with society in providing lasting solutions to environmental issues in the country.

He said one of the strategies of the ministry is to strengthen the planning, research and statistics department (PRS) to research issues affecting the environment.

“We need strategy and evidence-based solutions to sensitize and educate our populace on the issues of the environment such as flooding, pollution and erosion control, land degradation, logging of trees and climate change,” he said.

“We need to promote planting of trees, protect our forest against unlawful logging of trees, and protect our wildlife and ecosystem.”

On his part, Olatunji said the organisation is ready to collaborate with the ministry in achieving the co-mandates of the performance bond signed with President Bola Tinubu.

He said Nigeria needs a holistic approach and not a cosmetic approach to solving environmental challenges.

He added that his organisation is willing to provide an enabling environment through its collaboration with the ministry.