BY CHIKA OKEKE Abuja
The federal government has disclosed that the move by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited to suspend the exportation of cooking gas would boost afforestation programme and improve the country’s forest cover.
Minister of State for the Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, stated that supplying 100 per cent of the product for domestic use to consumers is a welcome development.
It is estimated that 1.5 million trees are felled down daily through illegal logging, thereby leading to 3.5 percent deforestation annually.
This is even as the forest cover had depleted to less than 10 percent as against the mandate of the Food and Agricultural Organizations’ (FAO) that each state is expected to keep its forest cover to a minimum of 25 percent of its land area.
According to her, “For us in the environment sector, this singular decision will not only help in restoring the forest cover and addressing some of the climate challenges, but will also facilitate the attainment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other aspects of the Paris Agreement."
She recalled that shortly after the hike in the price of cooking gas last year, that millions of Nigerians resorted to firewood and charcoal as alternatives, a situation that worsened deforestation and climate change.
Ikeazor commended the NLNG for its quick response to the plight of Nigerians, adding that wood and charcoal smoke contribute to air pollution and other pollutants that produce greenhouse gases.
The minister was optimistic that with affordable gas, Nigeria would cut down its carbon emissions drastically and play a prominent role during the current energy transition agenda.
These were contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Environment, Saghir el Mohammed.
Comments
Post a Comment