PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE

1. PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE Paper paper presented at the sub-regional workshop on capacity building for ECOWAS Member States on Integration of Climate Change and Environment, Policies, Strategies, Programmes and Development Projects. Accra, Chana 27th � 28th January, 2011 1

2. Outline. Background Information Sustainable Development Nigeria�s Approach to Sustainable Development. Environment Agriculture and Rural Development. Culture and Tourism Conclusion. 2

3. Background Information Nigeria is a country blessed with abundant human and material resources The country has 140 million people according to 2006 population census with over 373 ethnic nationalities, each with a distinct language and culture Geographically, Nigeria is located between latitudes 40 and 150 North of the Equator and longitudes 30 and 150E. It has an area covering 923, 773 Sq Km with over 800 Km coastline on the Atlantic Ocean spreading northwards through the Mangrove �swamps of the rich Niger Delta, rain forest and guinea savannah, to the Sahel savannah prone to desert-encroachment on the fringes of the Niger Republic. Nigeria is a funding member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as the Gulf of Guinea Large Marine Ecosystem. 3

4. Sustainable Development Sustainable Development involves efficient use of resources to meet the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing the interest of future generations It is anchored on four pillars as defined by the United Nation�s 2005 World Summit report Environmental protection Economic development, Social development and, Cultural development 4

5. Nigeria�s Approach to Sustainable Development. 1st National Development Plan 1962-1967 The plan focused on the development of agriculture, trade and industry, power and electricity, transport and communication, water, education, health and social welfare 2nd National Development Plan 1970 -1974 The plan attempted to reconstruct the war �battered economy as well as promote social and economic development in the context of the 3 Rs � Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation. 3rd National Development Plan 1975-1980 The Third plan was informed by the substantial increase in the oil revenue. Consequently the massive inflow of oil revenue was to be used to develop the productive capacity of the economy. 4th National Development Plan 1981-1985 The plan aimed to lay the foundation for long term economic growth and social development through development of technology, and promotion of increased productivity. 5th National Development Plan - Harmonization of the NEEDs document with the 7 point Agenda and the Vision 20:2020 5

6. The Plans had common objectives; Achieve a dynamic & self-sustaining growth; Improve standard of living; Enhance per capita income; Reduce the level of unemployment; Diversify the economy; Attain balanced development; and Indigenise the economic activities 6

7. Vision 20:2020 Nigeria�s approach to Sustainable Development is receiving a boost since the commencement of the implementation of the Nigeria Vision 20:2020, An Economic Transformation Blueprint, a long term plan designed to stimulate Nigeria�s economic growth and to launch the country onto the path of sustained and rapid socio-economic development. The Strategic Objectives of the Vision 20:2020 are: To promote responsible leadership, transparency, accountability, rule of law and security of lives and property; Enhance productivity, diversification and competitiveness of the nation�s economic sectors; To improve the nation�s prospects for achieving MDGs and creating employment in a sustainable manner; and To halt environmental degradation, promote renewable energy and climate change mitigation and adaptation The 1st Implementation Plan of the NV20:2020 (2010-2013) is being implemented towards the realization of the objectives. 7

8. Environment To promote environmental sustainability, the Federal and States Ministries of Environment are responsible for the protection and conservation of the environment. Bodies and Instruments in place to enable the Ministry function effectively include, National Policy on Environment, National Council on Environment, Environmental Impact Assessment law, National Policy on Pollution. Other bodies are National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Special Climate Change Unit. Mines Cadastre Department of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has the responsibility of issuing licenses and permit to both local and foreign investors. Nigeria is currently developing a National Policy on Climate Change and National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action to respond to Climate Change Impacts and reduce negative impacts on the lives of vulnerable people 8

9. Major Areas Receiving Attention in the Plan Sustainable use and conservation of natural resources. Mainstreaming of climate change to National Development Agenda Promoting pollution control and waste management Reduction in environmental hazards Halting land Degradation and desertification Promotion of environmental governance 9

10. Agriculture and Rural Development In managing the land resources, Nigeria has established institutions to manage and integrate land resources into the national development agenda; The institutions are, Federal Ministries of Agriculture & Rural Development, Water Resources, Solid Minerals Development, Commerce & Industry among others Measures taken to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development are, review of the National Policy on Agriculture Empowerment of the rural communities. efficient use of the cultivable land, launching of new initiatives such as the Cassava, Rice and Poultry, expansion of markets for products, adoption of new and friendly Technologies, and revision of the land Act which invested ownership of land in the urban centres in the hands of government. 10

11. The Vision 20:2020 plan is focus on the following; promotion of greater use of highly productive and disease-resistant crops, the use of hybrid seedlings and seed stock; exploration and exploitation of genetic potentials of the local and exotic breeds of crops, livestock, and fish through increased in research and development activities, professionalizing agriculture and promotion of educational training incentive to encourage young people to embrace agricultural production, processing, extension and marketing. Agricultural mechanisation 11

12. Culture and Tourism Participatory approach in decision making is the strategy being used to enhance the effectiveness of the sector. The institutions responsible for culture and tourism matters in Nigeria are: Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the National Parks Board under the Federal Ministry of Environment. There are similar bodies at the States and Local Government levels. There are established codes of practice, institutions, guidelines policies that promote the development of the sector such as the National policy on Travel Agencies, National Housing Policy, National Commission on Museum and Monument Policy, National Policy on information. Activities and projects of the sector include, Hotel Development and classification, building of Tourism Schools, Game sanctuaries, Institutionalisation of annual festivals. 12

13. NV202020 is enhancing the development of the sector through the following initiatives; development of the arts of dance, enhancement of varieties of Nigerian music, promotion of film and video industry, development of craft. development of the Museums, monuments and historical sites. development of Nigerian festivals and ceremonies. documentation of Nigerian indigenous languages among others. 13

14. Conclusion. The issue of promoting sustainable development had long been in practiced and had also been accepted as a necessary condition for the growth and development of any country. 14

15. Thank you 15