Buhari: Climate Change Devastating For Nigeria

From left: Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Joy Ogwu; Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State; Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; President Muhammadu Buhari; former Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi and other delegation members, during a meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the effects of climate change in Nigeria are devastating. The president said this in his speech in New York at a summit meeting on climate change Sunday, as part of the ongoing 70th General Assembly of the United Nations.

He said the summit provided a unique opportunity for world leaders to work together to address climate change and its impacts.   According to Buhari, the increase in global warming is an indication that the world faces a crisis of global proportions.

Daily Trust report continues:

He said the world was experiencing new and unusual climate variability due to increased emissions of Greenhouse Gases. Besides, he said even though Africa contributed very little to global warming, the socio-economic consequences of climate change was overwhelming for developing countries.

“In Nigeria, we’ve seen extreme weather variations, rising sea levels, encroaching desertification, excessive rainfall, erosion and floods, land degradation all of which threaten the ecosystem. These developments have devastating human costs and are affecting food security, livelihoods and the very survival of our people,” the president said.

President Buhari said the Federal Government had developed a national policy to guide Nigeria’s response to Climate Change.

According to him, collective action remains the only viable option to addressing the challenges of global warming and the ever growing impact of climate change.

“We have no other choice but to protect our environment for the benefit of the present and future generations. Collectively, we have to work towards achieving this all important objective,” he said.