The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Hon Pondi Gbabojor, has summoned the Minister of Environment and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to appear at its next sitting or face sanctions accordingly.
They were expected to show up on Tuesday, May 28, at a public hearing by the committee to address the devastating issues of gully erosion, perennial flooding, and desertification that plague many communities in Nigeria but failed to turn up.
The hearing was to address the adverse impacts of gully erosion in several communities across six states, namely, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, and Ondo; as well as the desertification disaster in Kano and the flooding disaster in Bauchi State.
The heads of the agencies were absent and did not send any representatives.
Gbabojor said the committee was displeased by their behaviour as it was the second time they were shunning the invitation to appear.
He directed the clerk of the committee to write to both of them, saying such an attitude would no longer be condoned.
“Clerk do a letter to the Ministry of Environment and NEMA and express the displeasure of the committee because this is the second time they are not showing up and it would not be condoned again.”
He stressed that the issues to be addressed were of urgent concern to the well-being of Nigerians.
He said the concerns were brought to the attention of the House, following the deliberation of some motions which were accordingly referred for further legislative actions.
He said the environmental crisis resulting from gully erosion is more prevalent in the south-eastern region and has reached an alarming stage.
The Chairman said the degradation has not only depleted the vast fertile land for agriculture but has also impacted the infrastructure such as roads, buildings and ultimately displacement of communities.
He said over time, perennial flooding had also unleashed its devastating consequences in many parts of Nigeria, especially in coastal and riverine areas, particularly Lagos, Delta, and Bayelsa.
This, he said, has resulted in great human, agricultural, and economic losses.
He added that equally, desertification, particularly in the northern parts, is swiftly encroaching.
Gbabojor said this silent but relentless crisis reduces fertile land, threatens food security, and deepens poverty.
He said the invasion of the desert has affected and continues to affect millions of people who depend on agriculture for their survival.
“As the Committee on Environment, alongside other pertinent committees of the House, we recognize the urgent need to address these challenges comprehensively and to chart a course toward sustainable solutions that will protect our environment and provide relief to the affected individuals and communities.
“It is in light of the above, that this Hearing is convened today, to enable us to gather insights from experts, stakeholders, and affected communities, and to deliberate on the multifaceted and severe environmental crises we face as a nation,” he said.
He said the House following its consideration of the motions, called on institutions of Government to amongst others provide immediate relief materials to ameliorate the sufferings of the affected residents and possibly resettle them; visit the affected areas, and carry out a comprehensive review to ascertain the extent of environmental damage caused by these incidents; and expedite the construction of shoreline protection as a matter of urgency to prevent further erosion-related damage and ensure the survival of these communities.
He said they are also to embark on a mass afforestation program that includes the planting of economic trees, development of shelter belts, and woodlots to enhance soil conservation, improve biodiversity and increase fuel wood, while also providing seeds and farm inputs that are resistant to drought; prioritize projects that promote environmental conservation in budgetary allocations; and allocate funds to accommodate the erosion control projects, flood management systems, and desertification prevention programs in the affected communities in the 2025 Appropriation Act.
“We must take proactive measures to forestall natural occurrences that lead to environmental degradation. This includes investing in research and development to better understand and predict environmental changes, by adhering to early warning systems and developing resilient infrastructure that can withstand environmental shocks.
“While I look forward to fruitful discussions and valuable insights that will emerge from this hearing, which will hopefully shape the future of our environment and the well-being of our people. I urge everyone to approach and accord this task the seriousness it demands and the collaborative spirit it requires.
Together, we can develop and implement strategies that will protect our environment, provide relief to those affected, and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all Nigerians,” Gbabojor said.
The speaker of the House, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, said the prevalence of climate change had impacted the environment harmfully, resulting in an increased wave of erosion, desertification, flooding, and other forms of natural disasters that have assumed severe and worrisome dimensions in the vulnerable communities across the 36 states of the Federation.
He said the ecological threats have specifically caused deaths, displacement of homes, devastation of farmlands and means of livelihood, and destruction of infrastructure, leading to socio-economic challenges in communities across the eight states captured in the public hearing.
The speaker who was represented by the deputy majority leader of the House, Hon Abdullahi Halims, said: “As the People’s Parliament and in line with our Legislative Agenda of embarking on legislative processes and legal frameworks to address environmental challenges, the House resolved to respond urgently to the menace in the communities to stem the ugly tide. On this note, I urge you to feel free to make your contributions in the most resourceful and open manner possible to provoke positive legislative results.”
