The Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) has unveiled plans to strengthen environmental professionalism, consultancy and collaboration with government agencies in Cross River, to promote effective environmental management across the state and communities.
The new Chairman of NES in Cross River, who is also its National Public Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Johnson, said this in an interview with NAN in Calabar, Cross River, on Thursday.
He said the initiative was part of efforts to reposition the society as a stronger professional voice and a reliable source of technical advice on environmental matters in the state.
Johnson described NES as a leading environmental society in Nigeria, established and inaugurated in 1985, with a mandate to serve as a watchdog for the environment and promote sustainable practices.
The chairman said the society was chartered in 2003 by the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (EIPN), a development he said strengthened the professional status of its members and practitioners.
According to him, NES promotes environmental education and awareness, conducts research and advocacy, and collaborates with government agencies, regulators and international organisations on environmental issues across the country and communities nationwide.
He said the society had experts in various areas of environmental practice who could provide professional and technical advice to governments, industries and other organisations on environmental matters and projects nationwide.
“We have experts in every area of the environmental sector where we can consult, where we can also give advice, professional advice and technical advice to governments, industries as well as organisations,” he said.
Johnson said his administration would expand the society’s activities in Cross River by establishing stronger partnerships with relevant institutions involved in environmental management, education and regulation and other relevant stakeholders statewide.
He said the chapter would embark on courtesy visits to universities, ministries, departments, agencies and organisations involved in environmental management, to strengthen collaboration and identify areas of cooperation across the state.
“We want to become relevant and a strong force for consultation and collaboration by institutions and government agencies in promoting environmental activities within the state,” he said.
He identified the ministries responsible for environment and lands, regulatory agencies, universities and other institutions as key partners in achieving the objective and advancing environmental protection across Cross River and communities.
The chairman said the society was also concerned about the quality and accountability of environmental consultancy services in Nigeria, particularly reports and recommendations prepared for organisations and government institutions and agencies.
He said plans were underway to introduce a professional identification seal for environmental consultants, making it easier to identify those responsible for environmental reports and recommendations and improve accountability across the sector.
According to him, the initiative will also enhance accountability in cases of professional misconduct and help clients identify consultants with appropriate professional qualifications and expertise in environmental practice across Nigeria.
Johnson urged organisations and businesses seeking environmental consultancy services to engage qualified professionals rather than compromise standards, noting that proper expertise was essential for sound environmental decisions and regulatory compliance nationwide.
“If you need a consultant that will actually carry out the right job, consult the Nigerian Environmental Society.”
Johnson made the appeal while urging clients to prioritise qualified environmental professionals nationwide.
“We have specialists in every field of environmental consulting. We can give you consultants that will do the right job,” he said, emphasising the need for professional standards and accountability nationwide.
The chairman said NES would also strengthen environmental education through workshops, sensitisation campaigns and grassroots programmes, to encourage wider public participation in environmental protection and sustainability efforts across Cross River communities.
He disclosed plans to establish environmental clubs in primary and secondary schools across the state to expose young people to environmental protection, conservation and responsible environmental practices for students and communities.
Johnson said the society would also organise an environmental summit to bring together government officials, industries, professionals, communities and other stakeholders to discuss environmental challenges and possible solutions for collaboration.
He identified the planned profiling of environmental challenges across Cross River’s 18 local government areas as another major initiative aimed at supporting evidence-based environmental planning and intervention for stakeholders and government.
According to him, experts within the society will undertake the exercise to identify critical environmental problems and develop recommendations for government and other stakeholders to guide appropriate interventions across communities nationwide.
He said the exercise would cover erosion, flooding, landslides, pollution, waste management, deforestation, logging and environmental impacts of mining and other human activities across affected communities and areas in Cross River.
Johnson said the society would also continue to promote awareness of global environmental developments and participate in the annual World Environment Day, marked on June 5, across Cross River communities statewide.
He said preparations were underway for the 2027 celebration, with activities expected to promote environmental education and awareness across the state through various stakeholder-focused programmes and initiatives statewide and sustainably communities.
On funding, Johnson acknowledged that implementing the programmes would require resources, adding that the society would explore partnerships and support from stakeholders while mobilising contributions from its members and partners annually.
Johnson urged individuals, businesses and government institutions to prioritise environmental standards in their activities, stressing that environmental protection required professionalism, accountability and collective responsibility for sustainable development across Cross River communities
