From Abel Daniel, Lafia
The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), an NGO, has advocated for implementation of climate change policy by Nasarawa state government to mitigate climate impacts on vulnerable communities.
Project Officer for GIFSEP for the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) Project, Mr Joseph Ibrahim, made the appeal at the Dialogue Stakeholders Engagement on Nasarawa state Climate Change Policy, in Lafia.
He explained that the programme is a continuation of African Activists for Climate Justice project, being implemented by GIFSEP in Nasarawa state, with support from Oxfam in Nigeria.
According to him, GIFSEP is working in collaboration with the Nasarawa state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in developing the climate change policy for the state.
This, he said necessitated bringing together of stakeholders from across the state to make their inputs, and also harmonise the drafted policy document for implementation by the state government.
“Today’s meeting is a combination of all that we have been doing in the last one year in Nasarawa state, we are working with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in developing climate change policy.
“And hopefully, we will be presenting the drafted policy to the Government through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to implement
‘Hopefully, we will begin to see policies, actions and interventions of Government that will cater for vulnerable communities that are affected by climate change,” he said.
Mr Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, while declaring the meeting open, said environmental challenge and climate change were front burner issues in the administration of gov Abdullahi Sule.
“The policy document is very imperative, we have to validate this document that has been put together by multi-sectoral committee, we will continue to demonstrate commitment to do our best,” he said
The commissioner, however, said the state government looked forward to the finalisation of the document for domestication in addressing problem of climate change and forestry law to ensure environmental sustainability.