The National Park Service (NPS) has assured Nigerians of its ongoing efforts to mitigate climate change through carbon reduction.

Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General (C-G) of the NPS, made this commitment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The C-G stated that the approval for the establishment of 10 new national parks in the country would contribute to carbon reduction.

“The seven national parks provide a total area of vegetation of 20,000 square kilometres, and we are confident that it would sequestrate carbon by 4.8 million parts.

“This means that with the introduction of the new 10 national parks, carbon dioxide is going to be sequestrated”.

Goni further advised residents to engage in afforestation to reclaim lands that have been degraded due to erosion.

He commended the Federal Government for its efforts in carbon mediation and for planting 25 million trees to cushion the effects of climate change in the country.

Goni also expressed satisfaction with the federal government’s tree-planting efforts, describing it as a huge step towards conserving the country’s natural resources.

“In 2020, the federal government approved the establishment of 10 new national parks”.

NAN reports that the 10 new national parks are located in Alawa National Park in Niger, Apoi and Edumenun National Parks in Bayelsa, Galgore National Park in Kano state, and Hadejia Wetland National Park in Jigawa.

Others are Kampe National Park in Kwara, Kogo National Park in Katsina, Marhi National Park in Nasarawa state, Oba Hill National Park in Osun and Pandam National Park in Plateau.

The Federal Government has unveiled the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 to prevent and minimise pollution and waste emanating from batteries in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the regulations seek to ensure environmentally sound management of used batteries in the country.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stated this at the unveiling of the document on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the regulations also sought to address the challenges of waste battery management in Nigeria.

Lawal said it was in line with the provisions and recommendations of the Basel and Bamako Conventions, and other related guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of hazardous waste.

The minister was represented by Mr Usman Bokani, Director, Pollution and Public Health, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

He said that batteries, particularly those used in renewable energy, telecommunication and automotive sectors, were critical to Nigeria’s economic development.

Lawal said that batteries contained hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and lithium amongst others.

He said batteries when improperly disposed of, could lead to severe health conditions including cancer, kidney damage and neurological disorders.

NiMet forecasts 3-day sunshine, haziness from Monday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Monday to Wednesday across the country.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja forecasts sunny and hazy conditions on Monday over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states throughout the forecast period with chances of morning thunderstorms over parts of Taraba state.

“However, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kaduna, Bauchi, Zamfara, Kebbi and Taraba states.

“Cloud patches with sunshine intervals are expected over the North Central region with chances of localised thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Benue and Kogi states during the morning hours.

“In the afternoon/evening period, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Niger states,” it said.

The agency envisaged cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over the Inland states of the South and the Coast.

It anticipated chances of localised thunderstorms over parts of Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours.

NiMet predicted localised thunderstorms over parts of Imo, Abia, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Rivers, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states later in the day.

According to him, sunny skies with few patches of cloud are anticipated over the northern region during the morning hours on Tuesday.

“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and Kebbi states. The North Central region is expected to be cloudy with sunshine intervals.

“Also, with chances of localised thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours,” it said.

NiMet predicted localised thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Plateau, the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kwara, Benue and Nasarawa states later in the day.

It anticipated cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over the Inland of the South and the Coast with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states in the morning hours.

It forecast localised thunderstorms over parts of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Lagos

states.

The agency envisaged a sunny atmosphere with patches of cloud over the northern region during the morning hours on Wednesday.

“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Taraba and Kaduna states. Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the North Central region during the morning hours.

“In the afternoon/evening period, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau and Niger states. A cloudy atmosphere is expected over the southern region during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over the entire region,” it said.

NiMet urged the public to take adequate precautions as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.

The agency advised the Airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

(NAN)