Day 23: My National Conference Exploits....

Alright on 29th April 2014

Session started, our first agenda as always is to say the opening prayer and kick start.

Minute of last meeting adopted as amended.

Our guest of the day were staffs of the Federal Ministry of Environment 

They were 9 in number.

They presented a paper on the thematic areas we told them we are supposed to cover in-depth.

They gave us an overview of environmental challenges and possible recommendations and solutions.

Delegates during the question & answer session bombarded the ministry staffs as if they were the genesis of the problem of Nigeria's Environment - Not far from it, actually.

A delegate told them he can easily find all they have said in the pages of text book, what we need is action plan. 

Another delegate asked, why is it that the South of Niger is greener than the North of Nigeria.

Why is it that the Ministry of Environment staff don't seem to be committed to the Environment and make it seem like its not a big deal?

Why is it that they either always go to international conventions late or they are not there at all?

Why is it that we have vechiles that cause pollution to our environment on the street?

And many other questions....

Well this delegate almost asked all the questions most delegates would like to ask.

Among the problems listed while presenting their paper, they stated lack of accurate data as one of their major problem(s), that really got me wondering and I told them; "here was I thinking if I need appropriate statics I will rush to the federal ministry of environment and you are telling me you lack accurate data? If you do not have accurate data how then will we get accurate solutions"? I asked if they have a data bank, a database sort of.

These questions made the ministry staffs really open up.

They said the funds they receive from the Government is Seven (7) Billion Naira and the task before them is enormous that they are soliciting for our help to assist them push this.

Well, another delegate, a professor of Economics said they once made  research and came up with the fact that to sustain the Nigerian environment, you would need over a trillion naira in average - now this is average I mean, just average.

Do you think Nigeria will vote that money just to save our Environment? Not when they can visit other countries and enjoy their beautiful Environement. Now, this is gonna be a long thought, no? 

I am optimistic we gonna make a beautiful environment out of Nigeria someday..

The journey to a sustainable Environment begins with protecting her - Yadomah 

Well well well 

After the lecture, we got progress reports from the various sub groups in the committee. We all indicated readiness to present and submit report.

Other committee progress? 

I heard a committee wanted to remove the immunity government officials enjoy and all the committee members seem to agree with the motion but two (2). Later one gave up but one...

Your criminals may be just around you I say. No? 

See you soon.

@Yadomah