Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has stated that, his administration is focused on addressing climate change issues Fuelling insecurity and other challenges.
He stated this while speaking at a retreat organised for journalists covering the House of Representatives in Minna on Friday.
It was themed: ‘The Role Of Media In Mainstreaming Climate Change Policies’.
He therefore advised journalists in the country to concentrate and report more on climate change and it’s effects rather than Do not concentrating on reporting politics.
Bago who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba said the retreat came at a time preceding the first Green Economy Summit in Nigeria which will be hosted by Niger State in a few days.
He noted that, whatever will discussed and whatever resolutions arrived at during the Summit, if the media does not convey to the public, the essence would be defeated.
Governor Bago said, “Climate change is one of the biggest problems confronting nations today. In Nigeria, it is a matter of concern to governments and experts because it is happening at a very frightening level.
“We have problems of flood, desertification, environmental pollution, etc and despite efforts being made, the devastating effects of climate change are recorded yearly. Even part of the insecurity we face today is attributed to climate change, which deserves priority attention.
“Unfortunately, it seems some of these disasters are even underreported. Perhaps, the media is not adequately equipped to handle this.
“I believe that as journalists who report from the parliament, where laws are enacted, it is essential that you acquire the necessary skills and tools to mainstream climate change”.
On his part, the Niger State’s Commissioner for Environment and Climate change, Yakubu Mohammed Kolo pointed to the fact that, the state is ready to face the challenges and provide a roadmap to mitigate the effects and turnaround the agricultural and other potentials of the state.
In a presentation, the Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) Professor Abubakar Sulaiman who was represented by the General Manager, Democracy Radio Muhammad Kudu Abubakar said that, West African countries including Nigeria are exposed to the vagaries of climate change.
He said, “Thus, while countries are encouraged to align their national determined contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans (NAPs) with their long-term low-emission development strategies (LTSs), the momentum for the West African sub-region needs to be accelerated.
“This is particularly evident as only Nigeria has passed the climate change legislation that is vital to ensuring central coordination and prioritization of climate change actions”.
On his part, a former member of the House of Representatives who sponsored the Climate Change Bill which was passed into law in the 9th Assembly, Sam Onuigbo said, Nigeria has taken a bold step and set in motion mechanism and commitment to address climate change issue in bothe short, medium and long term.
Earlier, the Chairperson, House of Representatives Press Corps stated that, climate change has impacted lives in different ways.
She said, journalists have a great role to play in pushing for better policies to mitigate the effects of climate change on humans especially in developing countries where the threats it posed is enormous as it is creating more challenges to their population.
She said, “This has altered our environment and ecosystem. Interestingly, the government is also coming up with various policies to mitigate the effects of climate change not just for Niger State but globally.
“It is therefore our responsibility as Reporters to communicate and properly disseminate this information. By so doing, we will all be on the same page”.
She commended Governor Bago for his strides in the area of economy and security which she said have caught the attention of not just journalists but other Nigerians as well as the international community.
She added, “The Niger State’s Green Economy is here while other States are lamenting the effects of climate change, you have taken a landscape step to position Niger State”.
Other Speaker’s at the event include the Assistant Editor In Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); the Deputy Director, Accountability Centre For Journalism, Mboho Eno.
