Environment ministry, Lincoln Ltd train Journalists on environmental sustainability

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Federal Ministry of Environment and Lincoln Publication Limited trained environment reporters on sustainable environmental reportage .

The training was to engage journalists and bridge the gap between media and the ministry in ensuring improvement in the level of interaction to strengthen environmental reporting.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja,
at the workshop themed; “Engaging Media outfits on reporting environmental sustainability in Nigeria “, the minister of environment Balarabe Lawal said the mass media plays a critical role in information dissemination especially within the environmental sector.

“The role of the media has become even more vital.

“Through your platforms, complex environmental challenges are translated into compelling narratives that inspire action and promote accountability”, he said.

The minister called on journalists to see the workshop not only as a platform for knowledge exchange, but as a call to action.

“The tools of your profession, pens, microphones, cameras, and keyboards are powerful instruments for change.
“Stories told today can shape behaviours, influence policy, and inspire hope.
Together, Nigeria’s environment future can be secured by protecting natural heritage, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development for present and future generations”, Balarabe said.

He stressed that the media serves as the mirror through which society understands itself, the megaphone that amplifies truth, and the bridge connecting policy to the people. Efforts in projecting the policies, programmes, plans, and activities of the Ministry are highly appreciated;
And there is a strong call to sustain this momentum.”

The minister reiterated that the environment is not an abstract concept.
“ It is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate that shapes the future”.
He added that 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.
“ Journalists are key stakeholders in bridging those gap through sustainable reporting and informing the public about the need to make the environmentgo greener“.
He emphasized that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Ministry of Environment has intensified efforts toward building a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Nigeria.

“In 2025 alone, initiatives such as the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall restored over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land and supported the planting of more than 1.5million trees across the country”.
He added that
these achievements demonstrate a clear national commitment to securing environmental sustainability while advancing economic growth.
Similarly, he maintained that the Federal Ministry of Environment remains committed to supporting the media through improved access to information, data, and field activities, as well as by fostering an enabling environment for effective reporting and strengthened collaboration will be essential in advancing shared goals”.
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Salihu Usman, told the media that their partnership has been instrumental in communicating not only what the Ministry is doing, but also in promoting practical ways through which individuals and communities can contribute to sustaining the environment.

Usman who was represented by Director of Pollution control and Environmental Health Bahijjattu Abubakar, said
this collaboration remains vital as collective action is required to address the environmental challenges facing the country.

Meanwhile, a resource person, Jerry Ato said both media and the ministry need more synergy in all aspects to ensure sustainabile development in the country.