Dr. Iziak Salako, the Minister of State for Environment, has highlighted the heightened vulnerability of northern Nigeria to the impacts of climate change compared to other regions in the country. He attributed this vulnerability to the region’s low precipitation levels and resulting desertification,Daily Trust reports.
Speaking during the launch of the Report on Mapping Climate Change Impact, Policy, and Action in Nigeria’s 36 States, including FCT, Salako emphasized the variation in challenges associated with climate change across the nation. The event, organized by the Ministry’s Department of Climate Change in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and in partnership with the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), aimed to address and understand climate change impacts on a regional level.
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Salako explained that the north, with its low rainfall, faces challenges such as aridity, drought, and desertification, adversely affecting the predominantly rural population, mainly composed of peasant farmers. On the other hand, the southern regions, experiencing high rainfall, are susceptible to issues like flooding and erosion.
He stated, “Vulnerability analysis demonstrates that states in the North experience higher degrees of vulnerability to climate change than those in the South. The pattern of vulnerability to climate change also corresponds to the dominance of climate-sensitive agricultural activities.”
Despite these challenges, Salako assured that the Federal Ministry of Environment has initiated various policy, legal, institutional, programmatic, and project-based efforts to address climate change challenges within the context of national development.
Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, President of the Society for Planet and Prosperity, emphasized the significance of the report in assisting states to generate income, access carbon finance, and build climate resilience. He expressed regret over the low awareness of climate change in the 36 states, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts at the state level to effectively address climate change impacts. Okereke acknowledged the collaborative work with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Governors Forum in mapping and understanding the level of climate awareness across the country.
