By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
Some groups of non governmental organisations in Bauchi have made a case for Climate justice to address the negative impacts of Climate change that have taken toll on many Nigerian states including Bauchi.
Addressing journalists on Saturday after a City March to press home their concern, the coordinator of an African Activist for Climate Justice in Nigeria, funded by OXFAM Kenneth Akpan demanded that global warming should not exceed 1.5°C to avoid escalting the problem.
He insisted that the Conference of parties COP27 must take climate litigation seriously with more commitment to finance communities like Bauchi drastically ravaged by flooding.
He explained why they staged the walk to Emir’s Palac; a prominent traditional ruler in Bauchi.
“The traditional rulers are the gate keepers of the community and as such can reach the people at the grassroot with message of Climate change and behavioural gesture,
” They can also be involved in major decision making by coming up with the direct needs of their people which we can eventually push forward”, he said.
Also Speaking another Climatic expert Shuaibu Kobi under PALEY as sponsored by OXFAM held that there is need for equality in addressing the issue.
Beyond intervention as part of the way to mitigate the effects, he stressed the need for accountability to reduce carbon emisissions usually caused by developed countries to the detriment of developing ones like Nigeria.
In a Remark, the Bauchi State Chairman, Network of Civil Society Organisation Jinjiri J. Garba faulted the state government for not strengthening the environmental law especially against indiscriminate felling of trees.
He lamented that unlike today , the state used to have Forest Guards watching against felling of trees from neighbouring communities and promoting tree planting among others.
On his part, the Chief Enforcement Officer in charge of Sanitary inspection of premises, Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) Haruna Suleiman submitted that Climate change requires more of sensitisation.
He believed that if the common man will be adequately sensitised on the need to shun cutting of trees, idiscriminate dumping of refuse and other man made environmental hazards, it will go a long way solving the problem.
The event was organised by Global Initiatve For Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) in patnership with Pastoral Resolve with support of Oxfam in Nigeria.
