Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state has described climate change as not just an environmental crisis but a profound challenge that can destabilise nations, worsen inequalities, and provoke violence.
The governor further said climate-induced conflict is not an abstract concept but a reality that the North must confront with urgency and determination.
He made this known in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the regional conference on climate change-induced conflicts in Northern Nigeria and meeting of the 19 Northern State Governments, religious functionaries and agencies on Monday.
According to the governor, the facts about climate change are undeniable, as can be seen in “rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and extreme weather events are no longer distant threats.’’
“The recent menace of floods in parts of Nigeria and especially in Kaduna state, the fast-encroaching desert sands rendering most of our arable lands infertile, the shrinking of rivers and gradual deforestation of our forests are stark reminders of the urgency of our situation.”
Governor Uba Sani maintained that these phenomena disrupt livelihoods, displace communities, and create fierce competition for increasingly scarce resources like water, arable land, and food.
He said, “The reality before us is that natural resources will become more limited, tensions will mount. Historically, we have witnessed how environmental stress can lead to conflict. The farmer – herder conflict is still with us today.”
The governor noted that rural communities in the North are mostly agrarian farmers and pastoralists, adding that “climate change and unfavourable weather conditions and diseases have caused severe loss of people and animals.”
Governor Uba Sani told the northern leaders that “we must also invest in climate resilience. This means supporting sustainable practices in agriculture, improving water management systems, and enhancing disaster preparedness.
