Lawrencia Laraba-Mallam is a former Nigerian Minister of Environment between 2014–2015. She was one of the 12 ministers sworn in by President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2014.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] She was succeeded by Amina Mohammed.[8] Before her appointment as a minister, she served as the National President, Catholic Women Organization (CWO).[9]

Lawrencia Laraba-Mallam
Minister of Environment
In office
5 March 2014 – 29 May 2015
PresidentGoodluck Jonathan
Succeeded byAmina Mohammed
National president, Catholic Women Organization (CWO)
Personal details
BornNigeria
CitizenshipNigeria
SpousePius Mallam

Ministerial career

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During her tenure, the National Great Green Wall (GGW) bill was passed, to provide the legal architecture for projects aimed at cushioning the effects of desertification and related ecological issues. For that, the sum of ₦16 billion was released by the Presidency in September 2014, for the kickstarting of the project.[10]

Speaking after the introduction of the Gas Flare Tracker website by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development, which tells how much gas was being flarred across the Niger Delta, in November 2014, Mallam said,

Anytime we attend foreign conferences, you know, we hear other countries tell the amount of gas released into the atmosphere, but we guess. But from today, we will not guess, we will give the correct amount, because of this tracker.

[11]

Kidnap and release

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On 3 October 2016, Lawrencia and her 73-year-old husband, Pius Mallam, were kidnapped in Jere, along the Kaduna-Abuja expresaway.[12] They, however, regained their freedom about 48 hours after the incident.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Gusau, Obanikoro to run Nigeria's defence ministry". PM News. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ Andrews, Jaiyeola (5 March 2014). "Nigeria: Jonathan Drops Bolaji Abdullahi, Swears in 11 New Ministers". All Africa. Lagos: This Day. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ Chima, Amechi B. (5 March 2014). "Breaking News:President Jonathan Sacks Sports Minister". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ Adesulu, Dayo (9 October 2014). "Dons brainstorm on alternative energy as minister flags off Enville seminar". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Jonathan names Gasau, Obanikoro, Boni Haruna as ministers". The Nigerian Voice. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ Mustapha, Olusegun (6 March 2014). "Aliyu Gusau ne Ministan Tsaro" (in Hausa). Aminiya. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ Heath-Brown, Nick, ed. (7 February 2017). The Statesman's Yearbook 2016 [The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World] (ebook). Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 918. ISBN 9781349578238. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Ex-minister, husband released after 48 hours in captivity". TheCable. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  9. ^ "What becomes of Jonathan's women?". TheNation. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Council Approves Draft Bills To Boost Transportation". Channels Television. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  11. ^ Stein, Chris (27 November 2014). "Satellite Tracker Throws Light on Gas Flaring in Nigeria". VOA. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Gunmen kidnap ex-minister, husband". TheCable. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2024.