By Aliyu DANDALI
The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usma-Jibril, disclosed that the ministry would soon list Nigeria Green Bond on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Green bonds are specifically earmarked for climate and environmental projects,typically asset-linked and backed by the issuer’s balance sheet referred to as climate bonds.
He made the disclosure at the ‘2018 Tree Planting Campaign of the ABU Green Belt Initiative’ held at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
TBI Africa reports that the theme of the campaign is: ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ and under the sub-theme: ‘Agro-Forestry: The Way Forward.’
“By the end of December 2017 when we launched the Green Bond, we were conscious of the fact that ordinary budgetary provision year-in-year-out cannot help solve our environmental problems.
“Therefore, we had to look for alternative sources of capital. So we did a modest launch of N10.69 billion and it was fully subscribed, evidence that investors have confidence in what we are doing.
“On July 20, I will be in Lagos to list the Nigerian Green Bond into the capital market (the Nigeria Stock Exchange).
“This is a window that can be replicated. Nigeria is the first in Africa to do that and only the fourth in the world,” he said.
According to him, the ministry has decided to invite forest research institutes to develop tree species and seedlings for distribution.
“We will also invite the national park services to re-forest some of the parks and get some of the money to Department of Desertification and Desert Control and National Agency for the Great Green Wall to go round. I am happy to announce that the first phase of 10 hectares in Zamfara has been completed,” he said.
In his speech, Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State said the state government had distributed 3 million seedlings to 254 wards for plantation.
El-Rufa’i was represented by Alhaji Muhammad Mahmud-Shu’aibu, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Environment. The governor said the state government was also processing another 4 million seedlings for onward distribution.
He said about 230 kilometres were being earmarked for shelter belt, covering Ikara area down to Birnin-Gwari Local Government Areas of the state.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, urged Nigerians to join other people globally in campaign against plastic pollution.
He said the Chemical Engineering Department of the university could do a lot on recycling of polygene/plastic, thereby making the environment safe.
“A collaboration can be established on that, ABU is appealing for this. On environmental awareness creation, the Theatre and Performing Art Department has also done a lot on burning environmental issues. We will provide assistance to the ministry in this regard,” he promised.
Garba also stressed the need for collective efforts from all Nigerians to check the challenges of desert encroachment.
The vice-chancellor expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the minister for building solid cordial relationship with the university.
He identified some of the mutual benefits of such relationship to include the university engagement with the National Agency for Great Green Wall and assistance by the Department of Climate Change in the ministry.
He said the relationship had enabled the institution to access Clean Development Mechanism Funds to sustain its programme.
