Nasarawa State environment stakeholders push for policies to tackle climate change
….As Nasarawa Assembly holds public hearing on climate change bill, citing human activities’ negative impact
Rt. Hon. Dr. Danladi Jatau, Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has condemned harmful human activities contributing to environmental degradation and climate change.
Speaker Jatau emphasized the urgent need for deliberate efforts to mitigate these effects to safeguard human and animal health as well as the environment.
He made this position known while declaring open a Public Hearing on Nasarawa State Climate Change Bill organized by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Housing and Environment today in Lafia the state capital.
The Speaker who lamented on the negative effect of climate change called on the participants to make critical contributions that will help the assembly make law that will address the challenges of climate change.
The Speaker who was represented by member representing Doma South Constituency, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar revealed that the House is committed to address the issue of climate change in the State.
” Climate Change has become a serious issue of concern among the international committee of nations, hence the need to join forces together to come out with workable laws that will help to mitigate the devastating effect of the menace.
” The international community is worried about the situation and is working hard to provide solution to the issue, Nasarawa State can not be seen watching, that is what informed the decision of the assembly to come up with this law” He said.
Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, the Deputy Chairman of the Housing and Environment Committee also presided over the public hearing where he said the bill is a private member bill sponsored by the Chairman of the Housing and Environment Committee, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu in partnership with GIF SEP and OXFAM.
The Deputy Chairman appreciated those who participated in the public hearing, saying that it has indicated their concern to the issues of climate change and how to address the challenge before it cause a serious damage to the health and wellbeing of the people.
Addressing the press earlier, the Chairman of the Committee and sponsored of the bill, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu said, the bill is a private member bill developed in partnership with GIF SEP and OXFAM, international NGOs charged with the responsibility of environmental issues.
He said ” The bill came about after discussion with the NGOs and deem it necessary for the state to have the bill that will help to mitigate the effect of climate change in the state”
According to him, the bill if become law, Nasarawa will be part of states that will benefit from the international climate financing that will soon come to effect.
During the presentation at the public hearing, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIF SEP), Dr. David Michael said Nasarawa State is very vulnerable to climate change owing to human and industrial activities that is affecting the environment.
He called on the government and the people to put all hands on deck to ensure that measures such as people friendly policy to mitigate climate change is initiated for the good of the people and the state.
Hon. Abdulhameed Kwarra, former Majority Leader of the House and former Commissioner in the State appreciated the sponsor of the bill and suggested for a policy formulation and advisory committee on mainstreaming on climate change.
Kwarra further stated that, the bill if finally become law will address the challenges of movement of the herders which is the reason for herders and farmers conflict as well as people looking for greener pastures.
Director General, Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority, Hon. Muhammad Bello Isa called for synergy among the line MDAs in the state for success of the law and clashes of interest will also be avoided,
Director General, NEWMAP, Barnabas Usman, representative of ACReSAL Project, Abdullahi Yusuf Agwai, Chief Executive Officer, Ecosphere Blue Green Solution, Alhassan Adamu Hussaini spoke extensively on the need for the bill to capture the issue of water ways blockages, the dumping of refuge in rivers, falling of trees and bush burning as it affect climate change.
Representative of Ministry of Environment said the ministry have already came up with a policy on climate change and suggested for formulation of three committees which will includes committee on climate change, steering committee and advisory committee.
In his submission, Murtala Muhammad Adogi suggested the payment of carbon tax to the farmers to be able to plant trees that will absorb gas emission from the heavy machines of industries.
The occasion come to a closed with a closing remarked by the Member representing Nasarawa Eggon West at the State Assembly Rt. Hon. Abel Bala where he thanked the participants for making their self available and contributing wonderfully promising to use all the contributions made to come out with a good bill for the state.
It was reported that various government and non governmental organisations as well as groups and individuals made comprehensive submissions at the public hearing where they made case for mobilization of finance and other resources necessary to ensure climate change policies and actions are integrated to promote socioeconomic development and environmental integrity.
The hearing also acknowledged that the continues falling of trees without plantation spells doom for the state and make suggestions for the way out.
