By Sylvia Okoi
In a bid to ensure a more viable and sustainable Environmental Management Practices across the State, the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Environment in partnership with PROTEGO has organized a one-day validation workshop on Environment Policy.
The validation workshop which drew participants from Government Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, Private sector and Community groups, was held at the HOGIS Royale Hotel, Calabar.
Giving an overview of the draft policy, the director of Environmental Quality Control in the Ministry, Mr. Akpa Akpa, explained that the policy provides a framework for an integrated approach to planning and sustainable management of Cross River State Environment and natural resources.
Mr. Akpa said the policy will, among other things, strengthen the legal and institutional framework for good governance, effective coordination, and management of the environment and natural resources, as well as ensure sustainable management of unique terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems for the State economic growth and improved livelihoods.
He said the draft environment policy will “promote and support research and capacity development as well as the use of innovative environmental management tools such as incentives, total economic valuation, indicators of sustainable development, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Environmental Audits (EAs) and Payment for Environment Services (PES).”
The director emphasized that the key provisions of the policy will work together to promote sustainable development, reduce environmental degradation, and protect the wellbeing of communities and ecosystems.
Also speaking, the regional Project Director for Prevention of Marine litters in the Gulf of Guinea (PROTEGO), Mr. Clems Ugorji, said that Cross River is globally known to harbour rare species of aquatic animals, hence the need for a robust policy to protect their habitat cannot be overemphasized.
“The second thing is the transition to a circular economy for waste management in Cross River State, which is very critical. We all see the menace of irresponsible disposal of waste across the country,” he said.
Furthering, he mentioned that “it is important for us to ensure that waste does not become a nuisance but can be transformed into industrial materials to create wealth for citizens.”
Ugorji explained that, Project PROTEGO is funded by the German Government, and is implemented on pilot basis in Nigeria and Ghana. He added that In Nigeria, it is being implemented in Lagos and Cross River States.The project according to him is bothered on marine litters, which is the access of waste from land sources to the marine environment.
On her part, Ruth Akagu, a researcher at the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria, described the draft policy as rich in content and all encompassing, stressing that it relates to plants and animals, including humans. She said that man depends more on the environment for survival, and as such, greater effort should be invested into protecting and safeguarding it.
Akagu who is also the technical adviser for Organization For Positive Sustainability Culture In Nigeria, said the policy will help Cross River State mitigate the effects of harmful environmental practices in the State.
Notably, the Cross River Draft environment policy will be formally validated and launched on World Environment Day in June this year.