Nigeria, World Bodies to Recharge Lake Chad with $15bn- Rep Member
Faced with harsh climate change emanating from the drying up of Lake Chad, Nigeria and the world bodies have resolved to take the bull by the horn by recharging the lake with a whopping sum of $15 billion US Dollars.
The huge sum is expected to be provided by Nigeria, world bodies and the international donors as parts of concerted efforts to bring the lake back to life.
A House of Representatives member, Hon Samuel Onuigbo who disclosed this in Abuja over the weekend hinted that the dry up of the lake was already leading to the grave loss of livelihood of so many people in the Lake Chad region.
Besides the loss of means of livelihood, Onuigbo said that the problem of the Lake Chad has also risen to insecurity and migration in the region.
The federal lawmaker whose spoke at a media forum pleaded with the Nigeria government to be more serious and committed to the grave challenges resulting from climate change.
Onuigbo who is representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State noted that climate change has been threatening development across all sectors of all Nigerians economy at the moment.
Specifically, the lawmaker disclosed that the climate change challenge in Nigeria has contributed immensely to drought, floods food and water scarcity resulting in damages being done to critical infrastructures.
The lawmaker noted with regret that several archaic practices such as gas flaring and bush burning which are still occurring in Nigeria significantly destroy the environment and ultimately affect our climate.
“Climate change at the moment threatens development across all sectors of our national economy. It contributes to drought, floods, food and water scarcity resulting to damages of critical infrastructure
“A culmination of these and other effects result in various forms of insecurity such as the now rampant farmers and herdsmen clashes and that of the Boko Haram terrorism in parts of the country.
He, however, expressed happiness that the menace in some parts of the country is now attracting global bodies like the United Nations Security Council which had passed some resolutions aimed at reducing the effect of the climate change.
Onuigbo said that as part of its own contributions, the House of Representatives inaugurated House Committee on Climate Change to effectively fashion out a legislative agenda for climate change and to show the commitment of the National Assembly toward migration and the adaptation of the effects of Climate Change.
The federal lawmaker explained that the committee has engaged all climate change impacted Ministry, Departments and Agency and other stakeholders in series of interactive sessions in other to create the needed awareness, built capacity and bridge the knowledge gap that has existed among the Ministries, Department and Agencies and their roles as regards mitigating the devastating effect of climate change.
The lawmaker, therefore, reiterated the importance of for MDAs to make adequate budgetary provision to backup climate change commitments with practical and verifiable actions.
He also pleaded with president Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that Nigeria takes the lead in the provision of financial support that will ensure the recharge of Lake Chad so as to prevent negative effect of the complete dry up of the lake.
