By Abdullahi Lukman
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has described the impact of climate change in Nigeria as a “living crisis,” urging immediate action to address the growing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
Kalu made these remarks during a courtesy visit paid on him by a delegation from the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) led by Dr. Nkiruka Madueke, the Director-General and CEO of GCF, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Kalu emphasized the urgent need for collaboration between the legislature and climate agencies to tackle climate-related issues, highlighting that climate change is no longer a distant threat but an ongoing crisis with visible impacts on Nigeria’s economy, environment, and vulnerable communities.
He cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which revealed that in 2022 alone, floods affected over 4.4 million Nigerians, displaced 2.5 million people, and caused an estimated $6.8 million in economic losses.
“The fingerprints of climate change are visible across our economy and environment,” Kalu stated. “Flooding has wiped out livelihoods, desertification is encroaching on 63 percent of our land, and rising sea levels threaten the Niger Delta.
“Our food security is directly impacted as the north, which is the nation’s food basket, faces severe droughts and desertification.”
The Deputy Speaker further noted the diverse and simultaneous climate challenges affecting different regions of Nigeria, from coastal erosion in the southwest to gully erosion in the southeast.
These environmental issues, he said, form a “paradox of climate change” that requires urgent, unified action.
Kalu also underscored the legislative efforts in tackling climate change, pointing to the passage of the Climate Change Act in 2021, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at guiding Nigeria’s transition to a green economy.
He acknowledged the creation of the National Council on Climate Change and the establishment of a climate change fund designed to mobilize financial resources for climate action.
He, however, expressed concern that the fund remains non-operational, stressing the importance of activating it to ensure that Nigeria can access both domestic and international climate finance.
“Climate finance is the oxygen of climate action,” Kalu said, emphasizing the critical need for funding to implement climate strategies.
He called on the GCF to play a key role in activating the climate change fund and helping Nigeria secure the necessary financial support for its climate goals.
Dr. Madueke, leader of the GCF delegation, reiterated the importance of Nigeria articulating its own climate projects to attract funding from the Green Climate Fund.
She stressed that such initiatives would help Nigeria access the necessary resources to address climate change and its associated challenges.
Kalu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for the country, emphasizing that the legislature will continue to support the efforts of climate agencies and work towards achieving the country’s climate goals.