All is now set for the establishment of the African Regional Coordination Centre for Marine Pollution in Nigeria, with the handing over of diplomatic notification to the Federal Government.
This came as the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, said the centre is an “added advantage” to Nigeria’s effort in combating pollution.
Performing the hand-over exercise in Abuja, the African Regional Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Abuo Bamba, said Nigeria with a “coastline of 853 kilometres, 9,000 kilometres of navigable inland waters and the sixth largest oil producer in the world” makes it strategic for the centre to be located in the country.
Bamba told the gathering made up of top experts in the environment sector that the centre “is established in Nigeria under the laws and regulations of the country to undertake regional activities in accordance with the functions and terms of reference defined at the Meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Abidjan Convention” of UNEP regional body.
With the centre, Nigeria is expected to “be in charge of the coordination and combating transboundary marine pollution in overseas United Kingdom (UK) and Portuguese territories,” Bamba said.
The coordination also include supervision by the Nigerian government through the centre of twenty two countries stretching from Mauritania to South Africa.
The UNEP director also debunked claims that the Ogoni report has been abandoned and its recommendations ignored.
According to Bamba, when operational, “the centre will assist Nigeria in mitigating environmental pollution challenges and will also fast-track the full implementation of the Ogoni report.”
He said already, activities have commenced with the implementation of the Ogoni report, as the Nigerian government have been tasked to accelerate the process.
On her part, Mallam stressed that “Nigeria is equal to the task” to carry out its responsibilities entrusted to her by with establishment of the new centre. She explained that the imperative of the centre lies on the fact it would contribute to the overall grading of Nigeria’s mitigation programmes in view of the increasing cases of pollution.
The new centre is expected to kick start within six months of the initiation of the programme by UNEP and the Nigerian government.
Source: ThisDay
