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FG restates commitment to tackling environmental degradation

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The Federal Government says it will continue to deal with the numerous challenges posed by environmental degradation and biodiversity loss resulting from deforestation, desertification, land and ecosystem degradation.

The Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, restated government’ s commitment to dealing with the problems, during the 2021 World Environment Day celebration on Saturday in Osogbo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Ecosystem Restoration: Resetting Our Relation with Nature.”

Abubakar said that government, being conscious of the alarming rate of deforestation standing at between 3.7 and 4.0 per cent, had continued to engage stakeholders locally and internationally on the issue.

The minister said this was in addition to the formulation of enabling policies and legislations aimed to bring the situation under control.

He said government had also begun execution of nature-based programmes and projects to address the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, in view of their multiple benefits.

He said: “Setting the pace, the Federal Government has made some efforts at all levels of governance to promote resilient environmental sustainability in the context of national development.

“At the just concluded National Council on Environment, the issue of Nature Based Solution was at the front burner.

“This came as a result of the renewed awareness on its cost effectiveness in the long-term management of ecosystem crises and its potential contribution to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

“It is also expected to facilitate the national and global targets, including the 2030 development agenda in which Nigeria is already making steady progress.

He said that the federal government submitted its NDC interim report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) few days ago.

According to him, the move was part of government’s practical demonstration of its commitment to the Paris Agreement on global action on climate crisis.

“This action underscores our determination to achieve the commitment we signed in 2015 to reduce Nigeria’s carbon emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and 45 per cent conditionally with international support by 2030,” he stated.

Abubakar said the ministry had made tremendous efforts to enhance effective and far-reaching actions to tackle deforestation, drought, desertification, climate change and reduce their impacts on the citizenry.

The minister said this was done through development of policies and building of institutional and legislative capacity.

In his remarks, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola said the state would continue to complement the efforts of the federal government towards meeting the country’s environmental challenges.

He said the state would do this through safeguarding the environment and also establishing enabling laws that would be of great benefits to the citizenry.

Oyetola commended the federal government for its choice of Osun to celebrate this year’s World Environment Day.

Also, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in the state, Mr Sola Oladejo , commended the federal government for its numerous environmental intervention programmes in the state. (NAN)

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IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court

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The counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Anambra State Government to either charge to court or release individuals allegedly detained for the past five weeks without trial.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejiofor criticized what he described as “violations of citizens’ rights,” emphasizing that the detainees have not been presented before any court or formally charged with a crime.

“Today, March 15, 2025, marks five full weeks since several citizens of Anambra State were arbitrarily arrested and detained in a private facility controlled by the state government. Shockingly, they have not been charged with any offense or brought before any court of law. This is a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights,” Ejiofor stated.

He expressed concern that the detainees were not held by the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), or the military, but instead in an undisclosed facility, without any official explanation from the government.

Ejiofor, who has previously supported the government’s security efforts, urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ensure the rule of law is upheld.

“I have always championed active citizen participation in combating insecurity and have publicly urged the government to act against criminal elements. However, this must be done legally and transparently,” he said.

While commending the efforts of the state’s Agụnechemba security outfit, Ejiofor insisted that professionalism and adherence to due process are crucial.

He reaffirmed his support for lawful measures to combat crime but warned that arbitrary detentions could erode public trust in the government’s security strategy.

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Osun Amotekun recruits accuse Adeleke’s govt of nepotism

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The Osun State Amotekun Corps has denied allegations of nepotism in its ongoing recruitment of 1,000 cadets, following claims by some dismissed recruits that they were removed in favor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

Some affected candidates, seen outside the NYSC camp venue in Osogbo, alleged they were removed due to their affiliation with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on behalf of the group, a dismissed cadet, Usman, claimed that they had been in camp since Sunday before being replaced by PDP members, some of whom, he alleged, were unfit for training.

However, Amotekun’s Board Chairman, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Wale Abass, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He explained that those removed from the training camp either failed to meet the required standards or did not follow the proper recruitment process.

“The 1,000 cadets invited for training went through a rigorous selection process. They submitted applications online, underwent document verification, and passed physical fitness tests before being invited to camp,” Abass stated.

He further revealed that some unqualified individuals managed to gain access to the camp, while some selected candidates failed to meet the reporting deadline. Those with health issues were also disqualified.

Abass reaffirmed that the Amotekun Corps remains committed to fairness and impartiality in its recruitment process. He described the allegations as an attempt to create confusion and undermine the security outfit’s credibility.

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Opposition no longer safe with recruitment of Osun PDP members into Amotekun – APM

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The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun State has raised concerns over the alleged recruitment of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the state’s Amotekun Corps, claiming it threatens the safety of opposition members.

In a statement issued on Friday, APM Chairman, Mr. Adewale Adebayo, criticized the recruitment process, alleging that non-PDP applicants were deliberately screened out. He warned that Amotekun, originally created to enhance security, was being turned into a political tool.

“We are disturbed by the protest by well-meaning Osun residents who applied but were deliberately excluded because they are not PDP members,” Adebayo stated.

He further alleged that over 1,000 PDP members had been recruited into the corps, describing it as an attempt to silence opposition voices. According to him, the recruitment exercise was merely a formality to cover up a pre-arranged selection process favoring ruling party members.

APM has called for the resignation of the Corps Commandant and Field Commandant of Amotekun, demanding an apology to the affected applicants and the people of the state. The party insisted that the security outfit must remain apolitical to maintain public trust.

Neither the Osun State Government nor the leadership of Amotekun has responded to the allegations as of the time of this report.

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