Why People Should Not Refer To Amina Muhammed as “Minister of Dustbin”

Prior to her UN appointment as the Deputy Secretary General, Amina Muhammed was formerly the Minister of Environment in Nigeria under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This title upon appointment sparked a lot controversy amongst the indigenes of her state, Gombe. In their trending words which she disclosed while speaking at the International Monetary (IMF) and the UN working together conversation, the people didn’t see the real value of her office,

“When I went back to Nigeria as minister of environment, my state was saying, it was environment they gave you? That is the dustbin lady.” She told Lagarde and a room full of development experts.

There is more to being an Environment Minister than just dirt.

Amina Mohammed and Christine Lagarde

An “Environment minister” is charged with protecting the natural environment and promoting wildlife conservation, which means Amina Muhammed literary works with everything, from the air you breathe, to the crops and animals you eat.

In her one year of office, she has identified the implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland remediation, seen that the setting up of governance structures including the financial and legal structures promote accountability.

She also cleaned up the lead poisoning in Shikira community in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state which caused loss of life and adverse health condition for over 300 people, mostly children.

She also developed a strategic plan to curb solid waste, as well as redesigning the National clean cooking scheme which aim was to provide clean cooking practice for Nigerian women.

In addition to her commitment on the implementation of NDCs sector road maps, the launch of green bonds, and the resuscitation of Lake Chad, the minister has also expressed great concern to the debt challenges of Nigeria.

It goes without contest to say that undoubtedly, Amina Muhammed is everything more than just the Minister ‘for dustbin’ and too valuable for waste.