In February 2024, the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency issued the seasonal climate forecast for this year and their possible consequences for agriculture, flooding and disaster management. Similarly, in April, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation gave a rundown on the Annual Flood Outlook for this year. According to the minister, flooding is likely to hit 31 states while a total of 249 local government areas will be affected and 148 of them have been designated as ‘high-risk areas.’ In another related development, the Lagos State government has also issued a red alert over impending heavy rainfall. The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources advised Lagos Residents to get prepared and avoid dumping refuse inside drainages.
These warnings are very crucial in the sense that they will enable those states that are likely to be affected to put in place proactive measures to avert serious environmental disasters that could damage farmlands and property. It has been observed in recent times that the weather has been extremely hot due to climate change. Recently, I was at a wedding ceremony of my friend’s son. At the wedding reception, an elderly woman who sat beside me was complaining bitterly about the heat waves. I had to explain to the old woman that the hot weather was a result of climate change.
Recall that in 2022, the country had severe rainfalls which resulted in flood disasters which claimed about 600 lives, and displaced over 1.4 million people while crop farms and property worth billions of naira were destroyed.
There are two types of disasters. These are human-caused disasters and natural disasters. Human-caused disasters are the result of human-induced activities, while natural disasters are due to natural phenomena. Examples of natural disasters include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and land tremors. Climate change is caused as a result of human-induced activities. For instance, in an attempt to provide food for the teeming population, the type of farming system that we practise is unsustainable in the sense that it is based on slash-and-burn techniques.
During the farming season, trees are being felled without any replacement and the implication is that the carbon dioxide gas that is supposed to be absorbed by the trees accumulates in the atmosphere, leading to global warming. Moreover, our industries also contribute significantly to climate change. Most of our industries emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, Sulphur dioxide and total petroleum hydrocarbon. The exploration and exploitation of mineral resources also contribute to climate change.
For example, in the process of exploring and refining crude oil, a lot of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes are generated which consequently have negative effects on the climate. Also, the burning of fossil fuels such as charcoal and petroleum products does contribute significantly to climate change. Some of the notable and fundamental impacts of climate change include a rise in temperature, ocean surge, flooding, erosion, drought, desertification and sea level rise.
Some of the measures taken so far by the international community in tackling climate change crises include but are not limited to the establishment of the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer in 1985; the establishment of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer in 1987; and the Climate Change Convention in 1992. I had the privilege of attending the Montreal Protocol meeting in December 1992 in Nairobi, Kenya where I represented the Federal Government. At that meeting, I urged the developed nations to assist developing countries financially to enable them to tackle the climate challenges.
The global community has also done a lot in phasing out ozone-depleting chemicals such as chloro-fluorocarbon, hydrogen bromide and halons. It is also important to mention here that the global community is moving away from a waste economy to a green economy. It is also advocating the use of renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal which are cheaper and environment-friendly. At the national level, the Federal Government has taken far-reaching steps in tackling climate change. However, more efforts need to be intensified.
Some of the measures taken by the Federal Government include the establishment of the National Climate Change Commission, the development of the National Policy on Climate Change, the enactment of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act which makes EIA study mandatory for new projects in Nigeria and the establishment of the Ecological Fund to address major ecological problems. The Federal Government set aside one per cent of the revenues into the Federation Account for the amelioration of Ecological problems. This amount is paid into a special Ecological fund monthly for the control and improvement of environmental degradation in soil erosion and flood control, drought and desertification control, industrial waste management, oil spillage and pollution control.
However, the politicisation of fund allocation has undermined the country’s environmental management. Moreover, there have been cases of embezzlement and misappropriation of the fund. The Federal Government is also a signatory to the aforementioned conventions. In addition, the Federal Government in an effort to capture carbon from the atmosphere is collaborating with a non-governmental organisation to educate the farmers on carbon farming projects. This is a climate change smart approach that includes practices like minimum tillage, retaining crop residue, crop rotation, intercropping and rationalisation of fertiliser use. These methods not only enhance soil health but also help in capturing carbon from the atmosphere, leading to increased carbon storage.
So, how do we mitigate the impacts of climate change? There has to be the development of a concrete action plan. We need to strengthen the early warning systems to deliver reliable, timely and effective flood information at an appropriate response time. Our economy needs to embrace the green economy through the use of renewable energy. At the orientation level, the development of a massive awareness campaign programme on re-afforestation, particularly in the northern part of the country, is very crucial.
The government must ensure that major rivers are dredged to mitigate perennial flooding. Research and development in engineering techniques for controlling floods and erosion must be promoted and there must be collaboration with relevant bodies in areas of policy development and implementation, innovation and technology.
We must encourage green productivity through the minimisation of waste and resource conservation. There is a need for the development and implementation of a robust coping mechanism for the most vulnerable members of society (children, women and elderly). The preservation of the ecological characteristics of non-urbanised areas of the coastline is very important and at the subnational level, we must ensure the domestication of relevant conventions regarding climate change. All drainages must be kept clean to ensure the free flow of water. Finally, all of us are stakeholders. Therefore we all have a role to play in building a more resilient and sustainable future.
