Environmental stakeholders in Kwara resolve to tackle climate change

Environmental stakeholders in Kwara State have resolved to engage communities and grassroots to implement solutions to local challenges caused by climate change in the state.

The Director of Programmes, Ilorin Global Shapers Community, Mr Azeez Abubakar, said this at a white Paper Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Saturday in Ilorin.

Abubakar said the meeting was to work out ways to implement actionable plans towards climate change adaptations through community outreaches, capacity and resilience building.

According to him, the Ilorin Climate Action “Iyipada Oju ojo Ilorin” campaign is an initiative of the Ilorin Global Shapers Community and the aim is to purposefully engage key stakeholders at all levels to implement solutions to local challenges.

He said that people at the grassroots were not aware of the effect of climate change on them, hence the need for awareness and sensitisation.

“According to analyses, Kwara is at high risk of flooding and schools in Ilorin East and West Local Government Areas have a very high flood risk level and are most impacted by damage caused by flooding.

“There is need for awareness and sensitisation on the issue of climate and environmental change, this will help the people to adapt and also hold the government accountable for the desired change,” he said.

The Founding Curator, Ilorin Global Shapers Community, Mr Oyindamola Yusuf, said that working with other stakeholders in the community would help in achieving the aims of the campaign.

Yusuf said that climate change affect the economy of any community.

“We understand that engaging locals is not easy and that is why we are localising it, speaking to them in their local languages and involving the community members in this campaign.

“Looking at the importance of climate action, we believe when people become aware of the dangers that lies ahead, they will be be interested in taking actions towards saving themselves and their livelihoods,” he said.

Representative of the Kwara Ministry of Environment, Mr Abdulraheem Mohammed, said the rate of flooding in the state was alarming, assuring hat government is putting measures in place to reduce the effects of flooding and climate change in the state.

“Human activities such as agricultural practices, residential and urbanisation purposes affects water ways and this causes the water to flow beyond boundaries.

“Encroachment of river banks by people as they do not respect set backs put in place by the government, there is need for policy reform to address this issue,” he said.

Mohammed tasked the media on advocacy, aurging Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to also look for indigenous solutions that could work with the people.

The General Manager  Kwara Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), Alhaji Sa’ad Dan-Musa, noted that there was low compliance to environmental safety guidelines by people.

Dan-Musa advised traditional institutions to be involved in the campaign for a safer environment in order to create grassroot awareness towards reducing the effect of climate change.

He reiterated the agency’s readiness to partner with CSOs, NGOs and other organisations for a safer environment.

Mr Akintola Akinyemi, a representative of Green Globe Initiative, said that climate change and its resultant effects was not one man’s business.

Akinyemi tasked telecommunication companies on information disemination on climate change and global warming.

He also called on the media to cooperate with the government, NGOs and CSOs on sensitisation.

Mr Mustapha Ibrahim, the Executive Chairman, Kwara Agricultural Network (SDG13), tasked the government on inclusive initiative for farmers on climate change.

Ibrahim said that it was easier for a farmer to deforest a piece of land for farming purposes, but difficult to plant trees because of the cost.

He called on the government to assist farmers on afforestation and weather forecast.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted experts attributing indiscriminate dumping of waste products, overburdening of wastewater pipes and river banks encroachment, among others, as some factors responsible for flood risk in the state.