Researchers seek govt. intervention to tackle climate change - The Guardian Nigeria News
As part of efforts aimed at mitigating effects of extreme climate change, researchers working on Pan-African and transdisciplinary lens on the margins: Tackling the risks of extreme events (Palm-Trees) have called on government to reconstruct drainages.
They stated this at a recent Palm-Trees conversations held in Lagos.
Fielding questions from journalists, Prof. Andrew Onwuomele of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISR) recalled the project started in 2023 and funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
To him, ‘the project is action research and looking at how extreme climate events on local communities. We found out that in Lagos State, there are policies that have been instituted by the state government to address the challenges. The implementation of the policies should be strategic and targeted to the actual localities where the impact of the extreme event is serious.’
In Lagos, he observed it is not all areas that are flooded, suggesting government should also look at reconstructing the drainages.
Concerning their achievements, he said, ‘we have provided borehole facilities for some communities, some people were also taught how to make soap, we provided fishing nets, gazebo, conducted capacity build on adaptation strategies when there is flooding and strengthened their resilience.
On her part, Principal investigator Palm-Trees, Lagos Prof. Grace Oloukoi revealed that the project is implemented in six African countries, which are, Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Cameroun, South Africa and kenya.
Oloukoi, who is a lecturer Department of Urban Planning and Environmental Management Lead City University added, ‘our concern is that there are people that are vulnerable but their voices are not heard in policy making and technocratic discourse as regards climate action. These include, women, aged people, persons with disabilities. We have brought stakeholders together and we have ten groups of people that we empowered. For instance in Ogudu, we gave them solar powered borehole to support domestic water supply.
‘We must allow town paning ordinances to work. Most of the drainages are blocked with debris. All the necessary stakeholders must work together. We have policies, but we need enforcement.’
Speaking in a similar vein, Prof. Mayowa Fasona in Department of Geography at the University of Lagos, said the project is not just academic research, but a lived experience.
The don added, ‘people may not have control over extreme climate change, but they can be empowered. They can be assisted on how to adapt to climate changes.’
On his part, Director Social Protection Coordinating Department Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget Yusuf Semiu Olarenwaju disclosed that the state is doing a lot in terms of flooding. He cited the flood insurance scheme which is aimed at bridging gaps.
