FAME Foundation, organisers of the Green Ball Walk for Climate 2022 on Saturday, October 29, in Abuja called on the Federal Government to address the lingering climate issues in the country.
Mrs Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, the Executive Director of FAME Foundation, made the call at the Green Ball Walk.
FAME Foundation is a non-governmental organisation that focuses on climate issues.
According to Ogunleye-Bello, the impact of climate change is greatest in Nigeria and Africa, where emissions are relatively little compared to the rest of the world.
“Severe climatic dangers are current environmental problems faced by citizens of Nigeria, as 33 states out of the nation’s 36 states are drastically affected by floods.
“Citizens residing in specific locations, such as rural communities, refugee camps, slums and undeserved communities, are already at a higher risk from climate change.
“They are the most vulnerable to the effects of these damages because of things like high illiteracy rates, poor governance, and little or no actions to control climate change,” she said.
Ogunleye-Bello urged all the political candidates running in the coming 2023 general elections to address climate change in their manifestos.
“The government at every level, federal, state, or local must play a role in tackling climate change.
“We urge the delegates at the upcoming COP27 in Egypt to examine the country’s climate situation objectively and make decisions that will benefit the country.
“We anticipate that they will take actions that will improve Nigeria’s climatic and environmental issues,” Ogunleye-Bello said.
COP27 is the 27th session of an annual global conference that addresses climate issues and Egypt is hosting the 2022 edition on Nov. 6.
A walk for climate change was taken by the group from Apo Bridge to the old Parade Ground, Area 10.
Similarly, Amb. Sylvia Sarki, the National Youth Leader of the National Council for Women Societies, called on the Federal Government to address the flooding issue in the country.
“Many lives have been lost, properties damaged and our economy is down because of the floods.
“In fact, the floods have also caused the petrol scarcity with long queues in Abuja and some parts of the country.
”We are facing this scarcity and long queues because some of the boundary communities of the FCT cannot access the territory for the supply of petrol due to the floods,” Sarki said.
She called on the government to checkmate contractors to ensure quality jobs were performed in terms of drainages for water ways to avert flood.
”I urge the government to appoint qualified and competent Ministers and Commissioners of Environment to address environmental issues in the country,” Sarki advised.
She expressed optimism that the walk on climate change by the group would bring about a positive change in the country.
By Abigael Joshua
