As the world braces for a potential high-impact climate change, it becomes necessary to define the role of government in climate change in Nigeria. This is because we know that the people are the government. When the people are informed, the government becomes informed. Those in positions of authority need also to understand their responsibilities to the society and the planet.
Ordinary people sometimes find themselves in extraordinary positions in government. We believe that by discussing the role of government in climate change in Nigeria, we may be able to impact government policies towards ensuring that the right attention is paid to global warming. As we trust the government at different levels to direct our country, our country as part of the planet has a responsibility to our planet and our world.
Here in Nigeria, little attention is paid to climate change. Often it is treated as a hoax but in reality, it is drawing closer than it was years back and we are running out of time if critical policies are not formulated to halt the impact of global warming.
What is the Nigerian government currently doing about climate change?
Currently, not much is being done in Nigeria concerning climate change. A country’s government reflects the mindset of the majority. Regarding climate change, several Nigerians seem to be living in ignorance of it. Even though the impact of climate change is already taking its toll on Nigeria, several people believe that the increasing heat waves and constant flooding are normal. The level of education in Nigeria is also partly to blame.
Although a large number of Nigerians are educated, the trajectory of thinking is also important. Nigeria is a very religious country, several events are accepted as an occurrence of faith. While this is a valid way of thinking, global warming has a scientific explanation. In several occasions, Nigerians have that tendency to ignore science and pay more attention to their faith.
It is also important that if global warming has to get the right kind of attention, the churches and the mosques in Nigeria need to take an active part in enlightening the people. Now back to the role of government in climate change in Nigeria, the government in a democracy reflects the people. Since people seem unaware of climate change and its impact, it becomes harder for the government to pay attention to it. To several Nigerians, climate change is a white man’s problem.
Igniting the attention of the people of Nigeria and the government on why climate change should be taken seriously.
It is very important to create more awareness. Governance in Nigeria works by observing the people’s body language. In Nigeria, it seems that people must ask before the government takes action. It doesn’t matter if it is a wage increase, without asking the government may not take any steps. This is not a bad attitude or lack of attention from the government but in a complex country like Nigeria, governance takes a different approach.
Maybe because of Nigeria’s diversity, taking even a well-intended action without public approval in Nigeria may lead to undesired reactions. The people of Nigeria must rise and point out to the government that more attention needs to be given to climate change especially given the impact it is already having on the country.
The current impact of climate change in Nigeria
Climate change may be responsible for so many problems that Nigeria battles today. The constant farmer herders clashes that have cost several lives and properties can be partly attributed to climate change. Desert encroachment in the North is pushing nomadic farmers southward.
When these farmers arrive in the south, their cows destroy farmlands. This leads to retaliation by the farmers. On several occasions, the altercation doesn’t end well. With attention to climate change, desertification can be reversed in the North and the cows will have enough greenery to eat. This will reduce the movement of herder and their animals down south. This could solve the biggest security menace in the country.
Apart from insecurity, other challenges that Nigeria now regularly faces include hunger and flooding. These are partly as a result of climate change. Heatwave also is now a concern. Water for farming, home, and industrial use is also being threatened in the North. The government needs to step in and play more crucial roles.
Let’s look at some of the expected roles of the Nigerian government in climate change.
- Regulation: Activities that may lead to climate change impacts need to be regulated. This includes indiscriminate mining activities. Business activities that are not environmentally friendly also need to be regulated or stopped entirely. Such regulation will ensure that climate change-inducing activities, business practices, and products are reduced
- Sensitization: The government also needs to take the climate change campaign to the people. The people need to understand why climate change initiatives are important and why they need to support such initiatives. Good places to drive such initiative include churches, mosques, schools, markets, etc.
- Engaging other governments to get involved in climate change initiatives, especially across West Africa and Africa: Nigeria plays a critical leading role within West Africa and Africa. Nigeria leading the campaign to forestall the impact of global warming in West Africa and Africa world likely be positively received by member states of the sub-region and continent.
- Action: The government also needs to take actions that may slow climate change. This includes the provision of an expanded irrigation project that may supply water to the North of Nigeria to cool the soil and enrich the vegetation. Apart from that, the government needs to take actions that may reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. These include building solar energy farms, funding electric car production companies, and sponsoring environmentally friendly business models.
Conclusion
We can’t ignore that for our society to work, those in positions of authority need to take actions that would impact today and the future. Climate change is no joke, it is happening. While the people can make impacts the role of government in climate change in Nigeria needs to be defined and the government also, as a matter of urgency and responsibility needs to step in and play that role.
Since the government is in charge of the geography of Nigeria both its lands and territorial waters, climate change falls under the sovereign responsibility of the government of not just Nigeria but every other country.
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