By Juliet Ukanwosu
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has called for strengthened partnership between the media and the government in efforts to tackle the myriad of environmental challenges facing the country, which has been further exacerbated by climate change.
The Minister made the call at a workshop organized for environment journalists, digital content creators, and communication experts in Abuja, by the Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with Lincoln Publications Limited.
In his keynote address, Lawal stated that the media is a key partner in tackling environmental issues, pointing out that journalists and communication professionals play a critical role in informing, educating and mobilising public action.
According to the Minister, environmental challenges in Nigeria are no longer distant concerns but immediate realities affecting millions of citizens. He listed the challenges to include desertification in the North, flooding and erosion in the South-East and South-South, oil pollution and gas flaring in the Niger Delta, deforestation and the escalating impacts of climate change.
He said: “Nigeria continues to face unprecedented environmental challenges: creeping desertification in the North; devastating floods and erosion in the South-East and South-South; oil pollution and gas flaring in the Niger Delta; rampant deforestation; and the escalating impacts of climate change. These are daily realities affecting millions of citizens and threatening food security, public health, livelihoods, and national development.”
While stressing that the environment is not an abstract concept, but the “air we breathe, the land that feeds us and the climate that shapes our future,” the minister said, the government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is intensifying efforts to build a cleaner, greener and more resilient country.
While calling on the media to partner the government in its intensified efforts, he said, “The mass media, often regarded as the Fourth Estate of the realm, plays a critical role in information dissemination, especially within the environmental sector. In a time when environmental challenges are increasing in scale and complexity, this role has become even more vital.”
He highlighted key initiatives such as the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall which has restored over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land and supported the planting of more than 1.5 million trees in 2025 alone, as part of efforts taken by government to tackle environmental challenges in Nigeria.
The minister who noted that the achievements reflect Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability whilst also supporting economic growth and livelihoods, added that the media as indispensable partners and key stakeholders in reporting environmental issues, play an invaluable role in informing, educating, and raising public awareness.
While stressing the need for the media to elevate environmental reporting, which he said are too often treated as secondary, despite their direct implications for agriculture, health, and the economy, Lawal said: “The media serves as the bridge connecting policy to the people…Through your platforms, complex environmental challenges are translated into compelling narratives that inspire action and promote accountability.”
He urged journalists to attach greater emphasis on data-driven and solutions-oriented reporting, which not only highlight challenges but also showcase innovation and success stories, and particularly, targeting a broad and youthful audience.
“Stories told today can shape behaviour, influence policy and inspire hope,” the minister said, adding that media professionals must use their platforms to drive awareness and collective action.
Lawal further pledged the Ministry’s committed to supporting the media through improved access to information, data, and field activities, as well as fostering an enabling environment for effective reporting and strengthened collaboration necessary to advancing shared goals.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, in his welcome remarks, commended the media for its continued support in promoting environmental sustainability, describing the workshop as a platform to strengthen collaboration, enhance capacity and deepen understanding of environmental communication.
Represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Hajia Bahijjatu Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary stressed that sustained collaboration between the ministry and the media is essential in driving behavioural change and encouraging communities to adopt environmentally responsible practices.