Environment Ministry

Good man, your anger and @ might be misdirected.

Nigeria’s transition to a green economy is no longer optional but a national imperative to drive economic growth, create jobs and strengthen resilience against climate change. 🔗: leadership.ng/nigeria-target…

PRESS RELEASE FOUR IN CUSTODY AS NIGERIA RECORDS ANOTHER VICTORY IN ENFORCEMENT AGAINST WILDLIFE CRIMES. A joint intelligence-led operation by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA), the Nigeria Customs Service, and the

World Environment Day 2026: Nigeria Commits to 20 Billion Trees by 2030 as Environment Minister Flags Off Campaign The Nigerian Government says it has committed to planting and nurturing 20 billion trees over the next five years. Honourable Minister for Environment,

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has called for increased investment in Nigeria’s green economy, saying stronger environmental governance and climate action are critical to the country’s long-term development. Read more: premiumtimesng.com/business/busin…

Youth Leadership in Climate Action. The @Climategovng , with @UNICEF_Nigeria , @ActionAidNG & @GIZ, hosted the first Nigeria Youth Climate Summit in Abuja to amplify youth voices in driving Nigeria’s green transition. Youth leadership is vital to delivering Nigeria’s NDC 3.0.

At the 8th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly held in Uzbekistan, I joined the Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, in high-level strategic engagements with global decision-makers including the GEF CEO, FAO Deputy Director-General, the Head of UNEP, World Bank team, UNIDO and UNDP alongside the Heads of EHCON, the Great Green Wall, FRIN, National Park Service, and NEWMAP. The discussions focused on strengthening environmental governance architecture, unlocking sustainable climate financing, and advancing coordinated action on climate resilience and ecosystem restoration in line with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Happy World Environment Day 🌎

At #GEF8 in Samarkand, Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Mal. @BalarabeAbbas_ met @UNEP’s Inger Andersen to discuss land degradation, desert encroachment, Ogoni cleanup progress and mangrove restoration. 🌍🇳🇬

FG Strong Support for GEF-9 Replenishment at Eighth Assembly Nigeria has thrown its full weight behind the Ninth Replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-9), calling for enhanced and more equitable funding to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, and pollution across the African continent. In a statement delivered at the Eighth GEF Assembly and associated meetings at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Centre, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, congratulated the GEF on the successful convening of the assembly and thanked the Government and people of Uzbekistan for their hospitality in the historic city of Samarkand. “Nigeria deeply appreciates the invaluable support provided by the GEF over the years,” the minister said. “The Facility has remained a trusted partner in strengthening our efforts to address pressing environmental challenges through critical financial and technical assistance.” As one of Africa’s largest recipients of GEF funding, Nigeria views the GEF-9 cycle as a crucial opportunity to confront interconnected environmental crises. The minister emphasized Nigeria’s dual role as both a beneficiary and contributor to the Facility and outlined key priorities for enhanced support. These include combating desertification in the northern regions, addressing coastal erosion and flooding in the south, tackling pollution, and conserving biodiversity in terrestrial and transboundary ecosystems. Nigeria also highlighted its commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through its newly adopted National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which focuses on expanding protected areas, restoring degraded ecosystems, and empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Minister Lawal called for a more inclusive approach to resource allocation under the System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR), urging refinements that better account for population pressures, environmental vulnerability, and the scale of challenges facing developing countries, especially in Africa. “We encourage further refinement of the STAR to better reflect… the scale of ecological challenges facing developing countries, particularly in Africa,” he stated. “Such an approach will ensure that resources reach those countries and communities most in need.” The minister further advocated for increased capitalization and accessibility of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) to back community-led conservation and restoration initiatives that deliver both environmental and socio-economic benefits. He expressed strong support for integrated programming under GEF-9 that simultaneously addresses sustainable agriculture, land restoration, forest conservation, climate resilience, and pollution control. Nigeria also urged scaled-up efforts to eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and other industrial processes due to their serious health and environmental impacts. Given its strategic position in West Africa, Nigeria placed particular emphasis on regional cooperation. The minister encouraged GEF-9 to bolster transboundary initiatives in the Lake Chad Basin, the Niger and Benue River systems, and the Gulf of Guinea to protect shared ecosystems, build climate resilience, and promote sustainable livelihoods. “Nigeria reaffirms its unwavering commitment to working with the GEF, development partners, and the international community to advance environmental sustainability and sustainable development,” he said. “Together, we can accelerate action towards a more resilient, prosperous, and environmentally secure future for all.” A. A. Evuti S.A Media and Comms. June 4th, 2026

Climate change is here — disrupting health, economies, infrastructure & communities. This #WED2026, join leaders at the High-Level CEO Roundtable as we spotlight ideas, partnerships, and commitments driving real climate impact in Nigeria ✅ Register: undp.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

The meeting focused on strengthening professional collaboration and exploring areas of mutual interest in environmental management, pollution control, environmental health, and sustainable development in Nigeria.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ #GreenNigeria 🌳

PHOTO NEWS: Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, today received the executives of the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) on a courtesy visit to the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja. #GreenNigeria 🌳♻️

Nigeria’s Environment Minister Meets Delegation on Ecocide Proposal Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on Monday met with a high-level delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to discuss a proposal to declare “ecocide” a serious international crime. The DRC delegation, led by H.E. Mr. David Tshibangu Tshishiku, sought Nigeria’s support for a resolution that would recognise large-scale environmental destruction as a crime. If adopted across Africa, ecocide could become the fifth major crime under the International Criminal Court (ICC), joining genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. Ecocide is defined as severe, widespread or long-term damage to the environment carried out knowingly; such as massive deforestation, major oil spills, or deliberate destruction of forests and rivers. During the meeting, Minister Lawal welcomed the delegation and commended the DRC for its leadership in pushing for stronger environmental protection. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding the environment and expressed support for the core objective of preventing ecocide. Nigeria already has relevant laws, including the Climate Change Act 2021 and the National Environmental Policy 2022, which align with the goals of environmental accountability and sustainability. To ensure a thorough and balanced position, Minister Lawal constituted a committee within the ministry to work with an inter-ministerial team involving Justice, Petroleum, Mines, and Foreign Affairs. The committee will consult all critical stakeholders and prepare Nigeria’s official stance ahead of the 2027 African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-21). Abubakar A. Evuti Special Assistant on Media and Communications To the Minister of Environment June 1, 2026

Environment Minister Calls for Increased Donor Support to Complete Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Project Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on Tuesday urged development partners, donors, and the diplomatic community to provide additional financial, technical, and strategic support for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to ensure the full restoration of Ogoniland. Speaking at a Conference on Donor Facilitation and Diplomatic Support Engagement for HYPREP held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the minister highlighted both significant progress and the urgent need for sustained international backing to complete one of the world’s most ambitious environmental remediation efforts. Lawal expressed profound gratitude to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for its pivotal role, noting that the landmark UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland served as the scientific foundation and roadmap for the project. “Since its establishment, HYPREP has achieved remarkable results,” the minister said. Hundreds of hectares of hydrocarbon-polluted land have been remediated, with more sites currently in progress. Potable water schemes have restored access to safe drinking water, large-scale mangrove restoration is reviving ecosystems, modern healthcare facilities are under construction, and livelihood programmes have empowered thousands through skills training and entrepreneurship. A Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration is also being developed as a hub for research and capacity building in Africa. These achievements, Lawal added, demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to environmental justice and offer hope that decades of degradation can be reversed. However, he cautioned that the journey remains incomplete. Resources under the current UNEP-supported framework are nearing exhaustion, making additional support essential for consolidating gains, completing outstanding projects, ensuring long-term monitoring, and maintaining infrastructure and ecosystems. “We therefore call on development partners, donor agencies, international financial institutions, philanthropic foundations, private-sector organizations, and members of the diplomatic community to deepen their engagement with HYPREP,” Lawal stated. “Your support, whether financial, technical, scientific, technological, or strategic, will be crucial.” The minister described the Ogoniland restoration as more than a national project, positioning it as a global model for environmental recovery, climate resilience, and international cooperation. Its success, he said, will show what can be achieved when governments, communities, development partners, and the private sector unite. He expressed confidence that the conference would foster new partnerships and innovative financing to accelerate the programme’s completion. Abubakar A. Evuti S.A Media and Comms. May 26, 2026

Good things happen when the world comes together 🌍✨ The inaugural #IntlDayofWomeninIndustry (#IDWI) united #UNIDO’sglobal field network across 35+ countries and territories, spotlighting women driving industrial transformation worldwide. ⚙️ Read more: tinyurl.com/GlobalIDWI

West Africa is stepping up on #BeatPlasticPollution ECOWAS Member States, with @UNEP, @ecowas_cedeao, @UEMOA_Officiel @Gouvci and partners, have validated a regional plan to tackle plastics across the full lifecycle, backed by financing, data & coordinated action. @brsmeas

The Federal Government has stated that it has concluded plans to issue a fourth Green Bond worth N516 billion as part of efforts to boost climate resilience and economic growth. #GreenNigeria 🌳 Read more: dailytrust.com/n516bn-green-b…

Significant progress has been recorded in the implementation of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (@ACReSALNigeria) Project since its inception across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory. Implementation of the project is progressing steadily, with notable achievements in land restoration, agroforestry, afforestation, watershed rehabilitation, and livelihood support for vulnerable communities. Read more: radionigeriakaduna.gov.ng/2026/04/16/fg-…