The Federal Government has called on the state governments to enter into partnership with it in order to successfully tackle the issue of climate change in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, made this call on Saturday during the launch of a project mapping climate change impacts and policies across Nigeria’s 36 states in Abuja.
The minister stressed the fact that climate action is an important factor if the eight presidential priorities outlined by President Bola Tinubu-led administration will be achieved.
Salako maintained that the efforts of sub-national governments and citizens cannot be overemphasized as their active involvement is pivotal in attaining success in managing environmental issues and climate change.
He also expounded on the fact that the mapping project was intended to assess the impact of climate change in each of the 36 states and identify their respective support needs to effectively implement climate change policies.
According to him, climate issues vary from state to state based on regional differences. He maintained that the northern areas experienced more severe effects, like droughts and desertification, compared to their western, southern and eastern counterparts.
Speaking also at the event, a lawmaker, Hon Sam Onuigbo, urged the governors and local council chairmen to include climate change when drafting their budgets based on the information obtained from the new assessment.
According to him, there was a need to allocate sufficient budgetary provisions for improved climate change action and resilience in line with the responsibilities assigned to them by the Act.
