Sodiq Ojuroungbe The Human and Environmental Development Agenda has urged the Federal Government to conduct a constitutional amendment and allocate roles and resources that empower traditional institutions to protect forests, combat desertification, and prevent droughts. The advocacy group emphasized that addressing deforestation and desertification requires leveraging the influence and authority of traditional institutions. HEDA Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu made the call in a statement made available to PUNCH Healthwise on Wednesday, to commemorate the 2024 World Environment Day.
According to the UN, World Environment Day has been held annually since 1973 and has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. This year’s theme is ‘land restoration, desertification and drought resilience’, and according to Arigbagbu, the call to empower traditional institutions aligns with the theme of this year’s World Environment Day. He noted that deforestation and desertification resonate deeply in Nigeria, pose significant threats in the southern and northern parts of the country.
He noted that traditional rulers were integral to Nigeria’s administrative structure until the 1966 coup and the subsequent unitary constitution. Further recognising their potential contributions, Arigbagbu stated, “It is high time we heed their call, recognising the vital contributions they can make in addressing insecurity, land degradation, and resource abuse. This .
