According to Abbas Tajuddeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nigeria and other poor nations are more vulnerable to the consequences of climate change and have fewer resources to adapt to it and take action to lessen its effects.
The Speaker made this comment on Thursday while addressing the forum on Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) at the ongoing 9th P20 Summit and G20 Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, India, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.
The Forum was organized by the Parliament of India in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Speaker Abbas said Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous and diverse nation, faces specific challenges due to climate change.
According to him, in the northern part of the country, increasing desertification has negatively affected farming, while unpredictable rainfall patterns have affected crop yields in the southern parts.
He said, “A direct consequence of this is an economic strain, given that agriculture is a significant sector of Nigeria’s economy. Coastal areas, especially around the Niger Delta, face an increased risk of flooding due to rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns.
“More so, Nigeria relies on hydroelectric power for a significant portion of its electricity, and variability in river flows often affects energy availability.
“Given these challenges, it is crucial for Nigeria, as with many developing countries, to address mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (preparing for and responding to the effects of climate change).”
He therefore said, the escalating climate crisis underscores the urgency of action that not only governments but also businesses, civil society organizations and every individual must take.
He added that, while systemic changes driven by governments and large corporations are essential for impactful mitigation, individual actions have a multifaceted importance in addressing the climate crisis.
He said parliamentarians could also allocate funds for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts during the budget process.
He said, they must also hold governments accountable for their climate commitments and actions by effectively utilising the wide range of oversight tools and powers available to them.
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