Nigeria: Expert Worry Over Rainstorm-Hit Community

Hir Joseph

28 July 2011

Lafia — The Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST), a group of experts working in rural Nigeria to build adaptation to the effects of climate change, is worried that more than a month after Ofante community of Ogugu in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, was struct by a hard hitting rainstorm which rendered over 200 people homeless, government agencies and other donor organizations have not intervened to raise relief for the victims.

NEST is working on a pilot project called Building Nigeria’s Response to Climate Change (BNRCC) through seven partners. It is also a matter of concern that efforts are not being made by governments to stem further occurrence because environment related regulations are hardly enforced.

In a statement issued by the Senior Programmes Officer, Pilot Projects, Samson Samuel, NEST noted that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed by the devastating rainstorm. The disaster also destroyed over 150 homes, including primary and secondary schools. Economic trees and high tension electricity poles were also affected.

“Those affected are being accommodated by their relations as the fate of the pupils and students of the affected schools remains uncertain. This has made life unbearable for those that were affected in the community,” the statement said.

He said “despite the appeal from different quarters to relevant stakeholders to come to the aid of the community, there seems to be no quick fix yet for those affected. The hope of going back to school soon by the pupils and students of the affected schools is also dashed as there are no classrooms to stay. The health of the people is also presently at risk as outbreak of epidemics loom due to the poor and over-crowded condition under which there are coping.”

Mr. Ogallah described the destruction caused by the rainstorm as overwhelming and beyond the coping capacity of the community. He called on the Federal, Kogi State and the local government council, as well as NEMA/SEMA, Red Cross, philanthropists and other relevant agencies to urgently come to the aid of the community.

“Until government at all levels become proactive in addressing the challenges of climate change in Nigeria, there is more to come with the vulnerability of the country to the impacts of climate change. Kogi State government should as a matter of urgency develop “Kogi State Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action -KGASPA” towards addressing climate change in the state, he added. Kogi State Ministry of Environment should be charged with the responsibility of driving this process.”

Ogallah attributed such disasters as flooding, poor crop yield and gully erosion in Kogi State to the adverse impact of climate change. He called on Governor Ibrahim Idris to become proactive on issues of environment and climate change while also calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the Climate Change Commission Bill into law.

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