Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for joint efforts to reverse the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation in the country.
He stated this at the showing and discussion of a film on climate change produced by the Shehu Musa Yar’Ardua Foundation.
The film, titled: Nowhere to Run, was shown in the multi-purpose hall of Bells University of Technology (BELLSTECH), Ota, Ogun State.
In his keynote address, Obasanjo identified with the theme of the film, noting that environmental degradation was of great concern to the nation. He enjoined everyone to make efforts to reverse its negative effects.
The film, which was spearheaded by the foundation’s Director-General, Mrs Jacqueline Farris and Director, Mr Amara Nwankpa, was aimed at sensitising the public on the negative effects of global warming.
BELLSTECH Vice Chancellor, Prof Jeremiah Ojediran said the film project has lived up to the ideals of the late Mallam Shehu Yar’Ardua who was committed to national unity, good governance and a democratic society for all Nigerians.
He noted that the university, which has all its courses, including those offered by the Post-Graduate College, accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) has a master plan that takes environmental protection seriously.
Ojediran explained the dangers of environmental degradation, as it affects the national spectrum, from the North across the Middle Belt region down to the south, as portrayed by the film.
He said: “Instructively, it also links the devastating effects of climate change with the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast geo-political axis and the resurgent militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
“With the pressures of rising population, shifting weather conditions, made worse by man’s deliberate destruction of the environment through deforestation, all adversely affect food security.”
In a discussion session, an expert on environmental matters, Dr Fatima Akilu, said: “Farmers have less arable land to cultivate their crops. There is reduced production of grains. Pastoralists have less areas for grazing. Fulani herdsmen move southwards. Ultimately, communal clashes ensue; as shown in the film by the killing of 57 people in a rural setting somewhere in Benue State. Yet, all these could have been prevented.”
Citing scenarios from the film, she lamented that without jobs, mass migration of people in the Northeast take place towards Maiduguri town, but they soon realise that their dreams can hardly find the light of day. The resultant effect of this is that many of the idle hands fall preys to terrorists who lured them with no-interest loans and be converted to religious extremists.
For the effects on the Niger Delta region, she noted that the film captures what it calls, “Fire in the sky” with the uncontrolled emission of gases from oil companies, described as the largest in the entire African continent.
Akilu lamented that 45 million tons of such gases are emitted in Nigeria daily.
“This is equivalent to crude oil production in Brazil. The effects on human health are damning. Increased inhalation of gaseous chemicals such as sulphur and nitrogen dioxide lead to incidents of acid brain, cancer and breathing constraints,” she said.
Other discussants lamented the dangers of oil spillage.
“For instance, oil spillage recorded in the film as highest in Bayelsa State has turned what ordinarily should have been the nation’s food basket into a marshy death trap. Sometimes such oil spills could cover as large as 80 per cent of affected land. Fishermen cannot fish and farmers cannot cultivate the land. Made worse is the discovery that some contractors actually sponsor such spillage, only to turn round to demand for government contracts to reconstruct the affected areas,” they said.
Discussants called attention to the United Nations Environmental Programme’s intervention, which states that 25 years were required for the clean- up of affected areas, adding that until recently, less work had been done.
The varsity’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Olusegun Areola called on Nigerians to find lasting solutions to the ‘’environmental disaster’’.
He suggested that the film be made available to all Nigerians to spur patriotism and better care for the environment.
The Dean, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Prof G. J. Osemeobo, said activities such as tree felling, over cultivation and bush burning come out of extreme poverty, which needs to be addressed.
“No effort should therefore, be spared by various governments, their related Agencies, the private sector and concerned individuals to enlighten the public and more so, put in motion pragmatic measures to mitigate the scourge of climate change on man. A stitch in time would save nine,” he concluded.
