The federal government is working towards setting up a tribunal responsible for trying perpetrators of environmental crimes across the country.

Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Abuja in commemoration of the World Environment Day (WED).

The WED is commemorated annually on June 5. The theme for the 2024 celebration is “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience.’’

Mr Lawal, who frowned at the rate of unsustainable environmental practices in Nigeria, attributed the challenges to lapses in enforcing existing environmental laws.

The minister identified greenhouse emissions from factories and other domestic appliances as contributors to the country’s current climate change challenges.

“Currently, because we are not strict, you discovered that environmental cases are not being treated the way they should be.

“So, we are working hard, and very soon, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) will come out with laws to protect our environment, forest and local environment against pollution.

“So, we are going to establish a tribunal that will try environmental crime very quickly, so we need AGF’s support.

“I urge the stakeholders to help us in enforcing existing environmental laws. We will try to improve the laws protecting our environment,” the minister said.

Mr Lawal said Nigeria was facing environmental challenges like other parts of the world due to various factors, including deforestation, unsustainable land practices, and other impacts of climate change.

He said such practices not only threatened the health and well-being of the people but also jeopardised the development of the ecosystem.’’

Mr Lawal said the country recently signed a bilateral framework agreement with the government of Cameroon on transboundary ecosystem conservation, sustainable management of forestry, and wildlife resource management.

He identified the gesture as a milestone that would help preserve biodiversity.

The minister urged stakeholders in the sector to recommit to activating and restoring the country’s land and environment and stewardship of the planet.

He specifically tasked all Nigerians on tree planting around their houses.

“We campaign to all of us to plant trees around our houses, which is the only way to address degradation and deforestation affecting our land.

“We have to declare emergency on our forest cover, which is so bad that we need to take drastic action to address this issue,“ he said.

Mahmud Kambari, the ministry’s permanent secretary, urged stakeholders to harness the power of innovation and technology, science, and traditional knowledge to unlock solutions that would restore the nation’s land, enhance drought resilience, and combat desertification.

(NAN)