Abuja: The Senate has called for the provision of special funding for the Federal Ministry of Environment to tackle erosion, flooding, and other environmental challenges across the country. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Sen. Olubiyi Fadeyi, made the call when ministry officials appeared to defend the 2026 budget of the ministry on Thursday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Fadeyi stated that the funds appropriated annually to the ministry and its agencies were ‘very inadequate’ to address these environmental issues. He highlighted the urgent need for addressing environmental management, erosion control, environmental health, forest protection, and other forms of environmental degradation. The issues also include pollution and drainage mitigation as well as coastal flood mitigation.
Fadeyi emphasized the importance of ensuring the release of appropriated funds for the ministry to fulfill its responsibilities. He called for solutions to address oil pollution, enforcement and clean-up technologies, and erosion control to protect lands and the environment. Efforts should be intensified on coastal flood mitigation, shoreline protection, forestation, land reclamation processes, agriculture, and land repair. He also stressed the importance of Nigeria meeting its environmental obligations and commitments to climate-related organizations, which could unlock international climate finance and strengthen global partnerships.
The Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal, stated that the ministry is responsible for ensuring a quality environment for the health and well-being of cities and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. Lawal noted that the structure of the 2026 budget proposal is anchored on the needs of the people, the agenda of the present administration, and the national development plan. It aligns with the priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including unlocking energy for sustainable development and boosting agriculture for food security.
Lawal mentioned that the ministry is addressing fundamental issues affecting the nation’s forests and is still awaiting the release of funds for some capital projects. The ministry has embarked on providing solar-powered boreholes and solar street lights across the country. Additionally, the ministry is engaged in flood aggression control, particularly addressing serious flood cases in the northern part of the country.