The National Assembly have resolved to collaborate with Liberia and other African nations in seeking how to find a lasting African solutions to the devastating effects of climate change in the region.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Senator Seriake Dickson, handed the assurance to a delegation from the West African country, led by Dr. Moses Ama, Head of Red Cross, Federal Mistry of Director of Forestry, and Nora Bowier, Deputy Managing Director of Forestry Development Agency.
Senator Dickson who said such international cooperation has become very necessary to pull resources together and jointly battle the menace headlong, stressed that environment is a collective heritage of mankind, just as he commended the commitment of the Liberian Government in responding to the climate threat, highlighted surmountable and stiff challenges, of climate change, and said.
The former Bayelsa State governor who represents Bayelsa West in the Senate said, “As you all know climate change is a major challenge, so all African nations have to put on their thinking caps and see how we can respond appropriately. Especially now that some nations are beginning to be isolationists.
“It means that political leadership in African nations must, more than any other time before, come together and see how we can find an African solution to some of these challenges, and take a common solutions”, he said.
Dickson further advised, “Not only at national levels, but also at sub-regional level, and also be prepared to engage at the global arena. Because while we are using scarce resources to build infrastructures annually with billions of dollars, nature is also destroying year by year.
“This is by way of flood that we never saw before, encroachment from the sea, by those of us who are from the coastal areas. I represent the Niger Delta, Senator Adetokunbo is also from Lagos that is surrounded by water. So we know how threatened that the coastal communities are.
“And my colleagues from the east are battling erosion as the land is breaking up. In most cases swallowing valuable houses and lands; farm lands gone. So we got a major challenge on our hands, as the northern part of this country is also devastated by desert that is fast encroaching by the year.
“We are losing arable lush green vegetation, Lake Chad is threatened and drying up rapidly and displacing people. These farmers, fishermen and herdsmen are pushed to other part of the country and causing lots of displacement, disharmony and crisis. So we have a lot of issues to share together.
“As we often say, ‘environment is a collective heritage of mankind’. A reason humanity need to come together and work to ameliorate the challenges that have come through the abuse of the environment. It is an abuse as gas flaring is still going on.
“One of the areas that Nigeria is leading globally, is the enactment of the Nigeria Climate Change Act by the National Assembly. It is not only the first in the sub-region or in Africa, but one of the earliest climate change legislation globally.
“A fact that is appreciated worldwide. Since then we have been collaborating with different agencies globally. We are also fine-tuning the operationalization of that law. Like most of you parliamentarian will, no law is perfect. But the first big step in that direction has been taken. We have the Climate Act.
“I am sure Liberia may have one already. But if you don’t then that is one thing to look at, as the Nigerian model will be quiet helpful. We are working to see how we can operationalize it fully. The concept remains very good. That is bringing all the players under one roof, with the President as chairman of the council.
“But as we have noted here, since the Act was passed, we have a challenge there. When you put the President, who is a leader of country, as a chairman. His hands are full. So a number of challenges we are looking at.
“Though the President has appointed an envoy, apart from the mister who remains the focal person at the ministerial level. There we have the Director General of the Nigeria Climate Change Council, NCCC, and all the relevant ministries in that council, with practical challenges like I had pointed out. With time we get there.
“That is a good theoretical model with practical difficulties as I pointed out. We yet to practicalize even the establishment of the Climate Fund. We are in touch and we hope that this year, the fund will be effectively operationalized. In terms of legislature, a major step has been taken.
He reminded the audience that climate agenda consists of three things: “The first is the preservation and protection of nature and natural resources. That is where agriculture and food sufficiency comes in.
“The second is clean and renewable energy. Energy is key, but if you are talking of the climate agenda, the energy we focusing on is renewable and clean energy. And for us oil producing nation whose economy is driven essentially by petroleum products. All of which comes from my area, that is a major challenge. Those of us from the Niger Delta we know what oil production has done to our environment.
“The last issue, which is as important that needs more collaborations among nations, particularly, developing nations, is the issue of finance. How do you finance this transition from fossil based energy to clean renewable energy? How do you finance the technology and operationalization?
“How do you finance even the adaptive mechanisms that developing nations and all our communities are in danger of? Because if you say people should not fell trees to cook, how do you empower the rural women how do you train them and equip them with the skills? And how do you provide alternative clean sources? Who fund this transition?” he asked rhetorically.
He expressed appreciation to the various agencies that has to do with preservation and conservation in the battle against climate change resilience in Liberia; and head of Red Cross, Federal ministry of environment for facilitating this interaction and promoting this collaboration between the ministry, particularly those of you who are in preservation and conservation of our forest resources.
His words: “Working with agencies in our sister nations in Africa. I particularly thank you, Liberians for being part of this. It is a good thing that those of you on the executive are not on this visit alone.
“You also came along with your parliamentarians. That is very encouraging and commendable, as parliamentarians need to know what those of you in the executive are doing, and the challenges, and gains and also you are facing, so they can use that knowledge to intervene by way of legislative actions. As the frontiers protecting our forestry and natural resources and also expanding the climate agenda.
While further expressing his appreciation to the Deputy Managing Director of Forestry in Liberia, Nora Bowier, Dickson said, “I think it should be expanded to include other Africa Nations.
“The minister should also be appreciated, and we would at the appropriate time ensure that while the heads of states are meeting, the ministers and other agencies who are actually in charge of preservation and conservation from the various countries will also be comparing notes; to see what you can, one from the other. And also see where the common challenges and gains are.
To the parliamentarian, Dickson said, “Thank you very much for visiting Nigeria with your executive, for being with them to compare notes with what their counterparts are doing and draw appropriate lessons. Most importantly to forge a common regional agenda. I do hope that after this interaction, we will also find time to visit Liberia to deepen this partnership and collaboration that has begun on the environmental front.
Other members of the committee present were Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos East senatorial district, chairman, Senate committee on Banking, Insurance and forex, Minority Whip, Senator Osita, representing Enugu and Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district, Senator Victor Umeh, Oha Madike