The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, on Friday inaugurated the chairmen and members of the governing boards of seven agencies under the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja.

Mr Lawal said the appointments reflect the federal government’s commitment to prioritising environmental governance as a critical pillar of national development.

“The agencies under your oversight serve as critical tools and institutional anchors for Nigeria’s response to both domestic and international environmental obligations,” he said.

The minister listed the core mandates of the agencies, which include climate action, pollution and waste management, environmental compliance and enforcement, as well as forest, biodiversity, and ecosystem conservation.

He charged the newly inaugurated members to ensure policy coherence, provide strategic direction to management, and promote institutional effectiveness and good governance.

Mr Lawal emphasised the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between governance and management roles, in line with public service reforms and enabling laws.

He also tasked them to ensure compliance, transparency, and operational efficiency in discharging their oversight functions.

“Your leadership is crucial in mainstreaming environmental priorities into sectoral policies and development planning at both the federal and sub-national levels,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the appointees, Magnus Abe, chairman of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, pledged their commitment to delivering on their mandate.

He assured that the agencies under their purview would align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

Michael Etaba, chairman of the House Committee on Environment, urged the new board members to address the country’s environmental challenges urgently.

The chairmen inaugurated include Magnus Abe for the National Agency for the Great Green Wall and Ma’azu Rijai for the National Biosafety Management Agency.

Others are Garba Datti for the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and Ibrahim El-Sudi for the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria.

Also inaugurated were Abdulmalik Usman for the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Edward Omo-Erewa for the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, and Kingsley Ononogbu for the National Park Service.

(NAN)