The Chairman, Committee on Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Hon Sam Onuigbo, has said the climate of the North East region of the country offers a great opportunity for massive advancement in the generation of renewable energy.
He said this while presenting a paper titled, “Leveraging Climate Action for the Sustainable Development of North East Nigeria” at the maiden summit on climate change in the North East and a retreat organised by the Commission in Gombe State.
This, he said, can then power industries and households as well as serve as means of clean cooking for our women.
He said renewable energy can also be leveraged to provide better access to potable water and water for irrigation and enhance agroforestry.
Onuigbo said this relieves them of the health implications of using unclean cooking means, while also reducing pressure on the forests.
He said the North East has immense potential laced with opportunities, which can be leveraged upon to align on the development roadmap of the region.
He mainstreaming climate action into their plans is the surest way to a sustainably developed North East.
The sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act said this is because of the immense opportunities available through climate action.
On the roadmap to a sustainably developed North East leveraging on climate action, he said one of the key things that will guide coordinated and increased climate action, which will in turn lead to sustainable development, is the development of proper climate governance frameworks to guide actions.
The former lawmaker said this framework must take into consideration the following:
“A clearly articulated vision backed by SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals and objectives.
“Political will enshrined in a long-term vision, which changes in governmental leadership cannot deter or alter.
“Proper set-up of institutional arrangements which includes having either a Commissioner for Climate Change, a Directorate of climate change, having the State Houses of Assembly provide oversight to climate action, ensuring inter-ministerial coordination, getting the local government involved bearing in mind that they are at the frontlines, and ensuring that the specific roles of each body/agency are clearly delineated.
“Having proper policy frameworks and action plans. These must include early warning systems that prepare our people for any climate emergencies. This assertion becomes even more important and urgent in view of recent massive devastations in the region by climate change. I am happy that some of the States here already have Climate Change Action Plans while the others are working to develop theirs.
“There is also a need to have legal frameworks providing legal backing to our efforts. In this vein, there is a need to domesticate the Climate Change Act across the States paying attention to the peculiar set-up and needs of each State.
“Climate change education and awareness creation should also be a key part of our governance framework. This is supported by the provisions of Sections 26 and 22 of the Act. Indeed, education is key, so is the creation of awareness amongst our people. This ofcourse links up with the need for continuous capacity building and training for stakeholders. This capacity building must include not just knowledge-sharing, but also encourage technological innovations that are locally-led.
“We must also ensure that we set up proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. This is a key audit process that will help us periodically evaluate how far we have gone, and adjust where necessary, to meet our goals and objectives.
“Integration of our plans and efforts with national and global goals is also critical as it ensures that we are aligning with what others are doing.”
He acknowledged that a lot of work has been done in repositioning the North East.
For this, he applauded the Federal Government, State Governors, North East Development Commission, LGA heads, public and private sector stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, etc.
He commended Nigeria’s leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for identifying the challenges of Climate Change and showing leadership in matters relating to mitigation and energy transition.
“More importantly, the President deserves kudos for identifying food insecurity as a national menace and making it a critical plan of his administration’s policy option as contained in his inaugural address.
“Let me also recognize the invaluable contributions of the governors of the North East region. The establishment of the North East Governors’ Forum represents a veritable platform to advance the cause of Climate Change mitigation actions, including enlightenment and adaptation.
“Permit me to also recognize and applaud the thoughtfulness of the Chairman, Managing Director, and the entire Governing Board of the North East Development Commission to organize this maiden Climate Change Summit and a Retreat at a crucial time like this in the region,” he said
Vice President Kashim Shettima said the past few days has been tragic reminder of the climate change.
The Vice President was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Dr Aliyu Modibo.
He said the unfortunate flood in Borno State was a call to action o rise up and meet the challenge of the moment.
Shettima commended the management and Board of North East Development Commission for their foresight dedication in responding to the tragic impact of climate change.
“Your effort to convene this summit reflects an effective collective response to these global issues, be rest assured that we stand ready to offer all necessary support to ensure a success and sustainability,” he said.
He said the summit could not have come in more critical time.
“We cannot pretend to say, that we don’t know how climate change is harshly shaping the world as we know it, whether in the alarming or the instability of our weather conditions.
“The truth remarks clear that none of us in immune to this existential force of this ecosystem. This is why we appreciate the bold taken by the NEDC in organizing this summit, which signals that our awakening is long overdue. Nigerians commitment to the global search to solution to the devastations of the climate change has never been in doubt,” he said.
He said at COP28 in Dubai last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emphasized that the country cannot beat the envisions target of aligning with the international development climate goal or reducing greenhouse, gas emissions unless every individual commit to the resolve to prepare for climate change.
“We have placed ourselves at forefront of global corporation to implement solutions that can hold or even reverse the effect of climate change and this summit is vital stem in realizing this objective. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, while the climate change 2021 aimed to achieve low greenhouse gas emission, green and sustainable growth and since it’s a clear target for letting it zero, our Energy Transition Plan (ETP) seeks to achieve this by 2060.
“Additionally, the National Climate Change policy and our ambitious renewable energy target and concrete action, we have taken to accelerate our condition towards Carbon Economy. We understand that the part of getting zero emitting is never easy nor straight forward but with this frame works we are serious about leading the fight. Our commitment to the great green world project is another essential part of our climate action strategy as we work to combat the decertification and restore the degraded land.
“This initiative compliments the premises of the promise we have made at the successive editions of the conference of parties COP, the supreme decision making body of the United Nation Frame Work of convention on climate change. This commitments backed by actions reflects our resolves to protect future generation from the devastating impacts of climate change. Nigeria’s 2024 flood outlook is yet another reminder of why climate change cannot be taken lightly.
“Our experts, specialist and policy makers have worked timelessly to develop comprehensive contingency plans and proactive measures to mitigate the impact of climate change and flooding across the country. However, even with this preparation we have faced floods that far exceeded our projection. This only reinforces the need to explore solutions, such as we have started at this summit for effective lasting action.
“More than ever, your challenge is a to guard our environment through the intervention like North East Intervention Master Plan. This plan guarantees the stabilities, security and sustainable development of the North East, a region that has long suffered twin conflict and environmental degradation. We cannot afford to allow this circle of menial flood, disrupted live flock production, erratic power generation, food crises and unstable water bodies to hold our Nation hostage. We must act decisively,” he said.
Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Manase Daniel Jatto, said climate change in the region has impacted on health, environment, agriculture being the main stay of life in the North East Region.
The Governor said his desire and effort since the the inception of his government is to take the State to the promised land.
He said climate change in the region poses a great danger to agriculture in Gombe due to the dwindling rainfall, drought, among other.
This, he said made which made Gombe put into its program, ‘triple G’- Gombe Goes Green, which aims to plant one million trees each year across the 11 Local Government Areas.
He said so far, Gombe has planted more than the projected number and it is still planting.
The Governor said the State is in partnership with the NYSC, where every corner posted to Gombe is encouraged to grow and nurture a tree during his/her service Year.
He added that Forest Rangers are employed to monitor the cutting of trees and forestall deforestation.
This effort, he said, earned Gombe the 2nd place, behind Lagos, in rating among the 36 States for taking action against climatic change in the country.
While appreciating the NEDC for the retreat and the Summit, the governor drew the attention to the challenges being faced where about 83 percent of the landmass of the region has been affected by drought.
He enjoined the Commission to engage the resource persons and experts it has assembled for discussion to come up with indigenous solutions to our problems.
He called for support for the North Eastern University in Gombe, who has created a centre for African Medicinal Proactive Research in its quest to develop drugs to help the populace of the Region.
