Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has urged the media to play a stronger and more proactive role in addressing the country’s growing environmental challenges. He emphasized that accurate reporting and increased public awareness are vital to protecting Nigeria’s ecological future.
Speaking on Wednesday at a media engagement workshop in Abuja, Lawal described journalists and digital content creators as key partners in the fight against climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. He noted that the media—often referred to as the Fourth Estate—has a powerful influence on how the public understands and responds to environmental issues, especially at a time when Nigeria is facing increasing ecological strain.
“The environment is not just an idea,” he said. “It’s the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers communities depend on, and the climate that determines our future.”
The minister pointed to several pressing environmental concerns across the country, including desertification in the North, flooding and erosion in the South-East and South-South, oil pollution and gas flaring in the Niger Delta, as well as widespread deforestation and the growing impact of climate change on livelihoods and food security.
He also highlighted efforts by the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda to promote environmental sustainability while supporting economic growth. According to Lawal, key initiatives in 2025—such as the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall—helped restore over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land and led to the planting of more than 1.5 million trees nationwide.
While acknowledging these achievements, Lawal stressed that environmental issues still do not receive the level of media attention they deserve, despite their direct impact on agriculture, public health, and the economy.
He encouraged journalists to adopt more data-driven and solution-focused reporting, highlighting not only the challenges but also innovative efforts to address them. He also urged media professionals to make better use of digital and social platforms to engage young Nigerians and raise awareness about climate action.
Reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to working closely with the media, Lawal said more access would be provided to environmental data, field activities, and resources to support effective reporting.
“Future generations deserve a Nigeria with clean air, thriving forests, unpolluted rivers, and productive land,” he said, adding that the stories told today can shape public behavior, influence policy decisions, and inspire the collective action needed to secure the country’s environmental future.
Thank you for visiting The Vestigator, don't forget to share!
