Flood: Nigeria pushes for climate change solutions

Nigeria has called for urgent and aggressive measures to combat the “catastrophic impact of climate change”, emphasising that it is a global crisis that demands immediate action from all. The Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this at the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, between October 21 and 26. […]

Nigeria has called for urgent and aggressive measures to combat the “catastrophic impact of climate change”, emphasising that it is a global crisis that demands immediate action from all.

The Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this at the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, between October 21 and 26.

The minister led the Nigerian delegation after flight issues prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from making the trip.

Speaking shortly after a visit to the Moataa village, a community in Apia decorated with Nigerian colours and flags, Lawal told world leaders that Nigeria had its share of the devastating impact of climate change through flooding, degraded lands and rising sea levels.

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“We need to address the climate challenge very strongly because of its effect on our society; it is a global phenomenon. We have experienced flooding in our country, degraded lands and rising sea levels, among others.

“Now is the time to join forces at the level of the Commonwealth to address these issues,” the minister stated, adding that Nigeria’s positions on the environment, democracy, security, and other issues were prompted by current challenges faced across the world.

Lawal noted that Nigeria also made its position clear “in support of democracy and the protection of civil rights across Commonwealth nations, including the processes for strengthening the Commonwealth to make it stronger and more vibrant.”

He emphasised that Nigeria also backed and encouraged ongoing institutional reforms at the Commonwealth, reaffirming its commitment to the organisation’s renewal, even as he emphasised that the nation’s focus is on results-oriented value creation and a responsive Commonwealth.

The Minister also reiterated Nigeria’s support for the new Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, expressing the hope that, with Botchwey’s emergence, there would be more robust engagement between Africa and the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth leaders had earlier in their executive session, “welcomed His Majesty, King Charles III, to his first CHOGM as Head of the Commonwealth.”