Sir: There so many things on the table, awaiting the Bola Tinubu administration. With insecurity topping the list, there is a great task of the realization of viable and sustainable economic alternatives, developing a decisive healthcare structure and of course, and battling an ever evolving overwhelming climate reality. It is certain that the Tinubu administration will be challenged by many of what its predecessors fought.
The year 2022 brought unprecedented climate crisis in Nigeria and the around the world. Floods have devastated communities in southern parts of the country and many communities in the North were displaced. The inherent consequences of climate related problems in our country are truly worrisome.
Over 12,000 farmlands across about 14 local government areas were completely destroyed in Kano State due to heavy and torrential rainfalls. In Jigawa State also, many homes were destroyed by heavy rains and floods. Numerous families had to be dispersed across schools which served as relief camps for the displaced. Some innocent lives were lost after being buried under water due to heavy rainfall. A substantial number of farmlands were destroyed too. These issues occurred while the President Buhari administration was nearing its end and political campaigns heightened.
Both the federal government and state governments rushed to cushion the effects by sharing palliatives to affected communities. Philanthropists also played important roles in supporting the victims. Many families lost everything including their only source of livelihood – farming. This challenge intensified living conditions for average Nigerians in these parts of the country as prices of commodities hiked and cost of living rose significantly.
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Now after a year, we’re back at it again. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has forecast of what we would expect during this year’s rainfall season and indicators are absolutely frightening: the heavy rains and thunderstorms are the pointers.
Apart from heavy floods, the inconsistency of rainfall in the Northern part of the country is also another climate wrinkle. The inconsistency of rainfall if not managed with the right agricultural methodologies will only worsen access to food supplies. Policies of the just concluded government in terms of border closure and later ban on the importation of products like foreign rice has hit hard a large percentage of Nigeria’s population. Even with the supposed increase in agricultural activities as the alternative induced by the Buhari administration then, the prices are unbearable.
With the cut down of trees in the North, heat is now persistent. The excruciating effect has been felt by people unlike heat seasons before. This year’s Ramadan season was marked by excessive heat. Federal and state government initiatives at this stage must prioritize replanting of new and resilient breeds of trees in places set for infrastructural activities. Our experiences have highlighted that prior climate change initiatives in this respect are not enough.
Health problems are also being exacerbated as climate change continues to unravel.
A United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) 2021 study found that “Nigeria produces more than three million tonnes of waste annually and only 20 to 30 percent is collected and disposed of. Uncontrolled wasted burning, which is one of the practices contributes to deteriorating air quality in Urban centres”.
UNEP also in a recent publication this year also states that “In Nigeria, sachets have become increasingly widespread, especially in fast growing cities like Lagos. When you picture the whole Nigeria in terms of this indiscriminate act, you know a bigger problem lies ahead unless necessary measures are implored.
Nigeria is blessed with enormous human resources capable of producing excellent ideas to combat some of these issues. As part of the government’s obligation to serve, it must consider accepting solutions from communities and creative youths as well as start-ups. Many ideas can be supported with considerable investment to support the fight against climate induced calamities.
- Nusaiba Ibrahim Na’abba, Kano.