The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako has emphasised the profound impact of the environment on the health of the nation.
Salako, who was speaking at a recent courtesy meeting with the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), declared that the environment is a critical determinant of our well-being, underscoring its significance in shaping our livelihoods.
During the courtesy visit in Abuja, Salako shared strategies employed by the Ministry of Environment to address environmental issues, highlighting the need to reinforce the planning, research and statistics (PRS) department for comprehensive research on concerns like flooding, pollution, erosion control, land degradation, illegal logging and climate change.
“We need strategic, evidence-based solutions to sensitize and educate our populace on environmental issues,” stated the minister. He urged initiatives such as promoting tree planting, safeguarding forests against unlawful logging and protecting wildlife and ecosystems.
Salako commended the NMGS and expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate and partner with organisations to provide lasting solutions to environmental challenges at both the national and global levels.
In response, president of the NMGS, Prof. Akinade Olatunji affirmed the society’s commitment to collaboration. He emphasised the need for a holistic approach, not just a cosmetic one, to address environmental challenges. Olatunji extended an invitation to the minister for the society’s 59th Annual International Conference and Exhibition in Jos, scheduled for March 18 to 20, 2024. Additionally, he informed the minister about the upcoming 39th International Conference on Environmental Geochemistry and Health, which focuses on themes like geo-environmental cleanup, soil geochemical survey and environmental contamination, set for June 30 to July 5, 2024, in Abuja.
A statement from the ministry’s head of press and public relations, Ibrahim Haruna captured the details of the meeting and the society’s forthcoming conferences.
