FG Trains Environmental Journalists Amid Rising Climate Hurdles to Shape Public Ecological Awareness in Nigeria
Effective environmental reporting is vital to public health, national development - Environment Minister, urges media to drive awareness, behavioural change
By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Ministry of Environment has commenced a capacity-building workshop for media practitioners aimed at enhancing environmental reporting and public awareness, as Nigeria grapples with growing climate and ecological challenges.
The training, held Wednesday in Abuja, brought together journalists and broadcasters under the Media and Environmental Communication Capacity Building Workshop, designed to deepen collaboration between the media and the government in addressing environmental issues.
Speaking during the workshop, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, emphasized the critical role of the media in shaping public understanding and response to environmental concerns.
He described the workshop as a strategic engagement, noting that “every segment of society requires continuous training,” particularly the media, which he said remains central to informing and educating citizens on environmental sustainability.
Lawal highlighted Nigeria’s pressing environmental challenges, including desertification in the north, flooding and erosion across the middle belt and southern regions, and oil pollution in the Niger Delta. He stressed that these issues have direct consequences on food security, public health, and national development.
According to the minister, the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, has intensified efforts to address these concerns through major initiatives. He cited the restoration of over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land and the planting of more than 1.5 billion trees nationwide as part of ongoing environmental sustainability programmes.
He further underscored the link between environmental conditions and public health, noting that diseases such as cholera, malaria, and respiratory illnesses are closely tied to environmental factors.
“The environment is key to our health. If we keep our surroundings clean, we reduce the risk of many diseases,” he said, urging the media to amplify awareness campaigns that promote environmental responsibility.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Hajia Bahijjatu Abubakar, commended the media for its role in driving public discourse on climate change, biodiversity conservation, and pollution control.
She noted that the workshop would strengthen the relationship between the ministry and the media while equipping participants with the tools needed for more impactful and data-driven environmental reporting.
Also speaking, the Human Resources Manager of Lincoln Publications Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Uwaegbu, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the ministry in promoting environmental sustainability through strategic partnerships.
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The workshop is expected to engage in knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at improving reporting standards and increasing public engagement on environmental issues.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to providing journalists with better access to data and field activities, stressing that collaboration with the media remains essential in achieving a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Nigeria.
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