In order to curb the effect of Climate Change in Nigeria, the federal government has organised the 8th Regional Training Workshop on the ‘Effects of Climate Change on Water Resources Management According to Senior Information, Officer in the Ministry of Water Resources, Fatimah Yusuf, said similar regional training workshop had been held in Minna, Makurdi, Benin, Owerri, Abeokuta, Sokoto, and Illorin.
The training brought together experts and stakeholders in the sector to brainstorm on effective and efficient strategy for the management of the nation’s Water Resources as it affects each hydrological area in order to proffer pragmatic solutions to the challenges.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Musa Ibrahim, who was represented by the Head, Climate Change Unit of the Ministry, Mr. Seun Babarinde said “Climate Change is a global phenomenon affecting countries across the world and Nigeria is not exempted”. He stressed that there is need to develop suitable adaptation programmes towards enhancing the capacity of people to cope through training and re-training programmes targeted at the planners, manager and people at the community levels to understand the effects of Climate Change.
The Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, who was represented by the Assistant Director, House Committee on Climate Change, Mr. Aderibigbe Razak, in his goodwill message noted that every Nigerian from community to national level has a role to play in the adaptation and mitigation of Climate Change. He revealed that the bill on Climate Change is presently awaiting presidential assent. At the end of the technical session, a communique was raised where issues on Climate Change affecting the country were identified. This includes; inadequate sensitization and awareness of stakeholders on the effects of climate change in the respective catchment areas, lack of strong political will by stakeholders to address the challenges, paucity of data for effective planning of water resources projects amongst others. The participants at the workshop also recommended strategies to curb the effects of climate change by adopting appropriate and holistic framework at all levels to address the issues of climate change, deforestation should be discouraged and afforestation encouraged. Also adoption of appropriate technologies for project implementation and deployment of renewable energy option was recommended for green economy and proper operation and maintenance of dam reservoirs
