Amidst the increasing effect of climate change in the country, stakeholders have advocated for an enactment of appropriation legislation to help deal with the challenge.
They also called for the mainstreaming of climate change and ecological issues in the country, while seeking for more concerted action from stakeholders to deal with the problem.
They spoke, Tuesday, at a webinar organised by the Centre for Values in Leadership.
The event was moderated by Pat Utomi the centre’s founder with the theme: ‘Embedding Effective Governance Regimes for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Actions in Nigeria’.
The event had in attendance, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Edward Kallon, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria among others.
While the Panellists were; Aliu Jauro- Director General /CEO, The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Jubril Adeojo, Co-Founder, SMEFUNDS Capital;Impact Investor climate change and social impact and Tunji Bello, Commissioner of Environment, Lagos State.
The Minister of Environment said the federal government was concerned about the increasing effects of climate change in Nigeria and had initiated different programmes in conjunction with states to mitigate the problem.
He said his Ministry in a bid to create awareness had encouraged the setting up of conservative clubs in secondary schools.
In his presentation, Imo State Governor, said the state had been adversely exposed to the effect of climate change due to its high population and typography, urging the federal government to allow states to be in charge of environmental issues in their states.
He said his administration had given ecological and climate change issues a priority since it assumed office by establishing a desk in ministries, while a special committee had also been set up.
The Kebbi Governor, lamented the effect of flooding in his state in recent time, while seeking for more concerted effort from government and stakeholders for more dams to be built across Nigeria to check flooding.
Sonia Shekarri, who represented Kaduna State, revealed that the Nasir El-Rufai’s administration had taken measures to mitigate the effects of climate change by encouraging tree plantation, supporting subsistent farmers and building the capacity of institutions across the state to deal with the problem.
Jubril Adeojo, a member of the panellists however, warned on the effect of climate change on the country, urging the government at all levels to take more decisive actions to avert the looming danger.
“Climate change is more dangerous than we think, even than Covid-19; governments at all levels must have the political will to take action on environmental issues now,” Adeojo warned.
Commissioner of Environment, Lagos State, said the state was devising ways of dealing with waste collection and disposal, while adding that the high population had adversely contributed to climate change and ecological problems in the state.
