The North East Development Commission (NEDC) on Monday held a Climate Change Summit in Gombe state to address the immediate challenges of the region and also to set the stage for long-term resilience and growth.
The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) on Monday held a Climate change summit in Gombe state as the commission continues its mission to bring stability to the Boko Haram ravaged region.
The commission came into being as a child of necessity. It was established to bring hope, stability, and development to a region that has endured many hardships.
From the onset, the mandate establishing the commission was clear and unambiguous. The mandate is to rebuild, stabilise, and accelerate the development of the Northeast.
Few years down the line, the success recorded by NEDC has made other regions clamour for a similar commission that would see to the development of their respective regions.
As at the last count, the North West Development Commission (NWDC) and the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bills have been passed into law, while the South West Development Commission and North Central Development Commission bills are still pending before the National Assembly.
While NEDC has made significant strides in rebuilding communities in the North East and restoring livelihoods, the evolving climate crisis presents a new set of challenges.
From desertification and water scarcity to land degradation and loss of biodiversity, the impacts of climate change are felt deeply across the communities. These effects, if left unchecked, threaten not only the environment but also the very foundation of the region’s economy, security, and social well-being.
Declaring the summit open, Vice President Kashim Shettima lamented that the last few days had been a tragic reminder of the harsh realities of climate change, as the nation watched in grief as lives, livelihoods and communities have come under attack as part of our nation is submerged in flood. He noted that the devastation in Maiduguri has been heart wrenching.
In this context, Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo emphasised that the summit could not have come at a more critical time.
He stated: “We cannot not pretend we do not see how climate change is shaping the world as we know it. Whether in the alarming situation of water bodies or the instability of our weather conditions. The truth remains clear, none of us is immuned to the threat of our ecosystem.
“This is why I am deeply impressed by the bold step taken by the NEDC in organising this summit, which is long overdue. Nigeria’s commitment to the global search for the solutions to the devastation of climate change has never been in doubt.
“Our commitment to the Great Green Wall project is another essential plan of our climate action strategy as we work to combat desertification and to restore degraded land.
“This initiative is to complement the promise we have made at successive editions of the Conference of Parties (COP). This commitment backed by actions showed our resolve to protect future generations from the devastating impact of climate change.”
Furthermore, the Vice President noted that Nigeria’s 2024 flood Outlook was yet another reminder of why climate change cannot be taken lightly. He explained that the country’s policy makers have worked tirelessly to develop comprehensive contingency plans and proactive measures to mitigate the impact of flooding across the country.
He added: “However, even with this preparation, we have faced floods that far exceeded our projections. This only reinforces the need to explore solutions such as those discussed at this summit for lasting and effective climate action.
“More than ever, we are challenged to safeguard our environment through interventions like the North East Stabilisation and Development Master plan. This plan guarantees security and sustainable development of the North East.”
Setting the tone for the retreat, the Chairman, Governing Board of NEDC, Maj-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd) said the retreat was an essential milestone for the commission to reflect, strategise, and set the course for the effective implementation of the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP).
He was of the opinion that the retreat provided an opportunity not just to define the operational efficiency of the Commission but also the future well-being of millions of people who call this region home.
Moreso, Tafa said with their convergence, they should acknowledge the profound challenges they face: the lingering impacts of the Boko Haram insurgency, the devastating effects of climate change, and the socio-economic hardships that continue to strain the Northeast.
To him, these challenges, though daunting but surmountable if they ingeniously harnessed the opportunities. He was of the opinion that achieving the set goals in the NESDMP requires them to innovate, collaborate, and implement sustainable solutions that will transform this region.
In his submission, the Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali said the summit themed: “Setting the course for sustained climate action in the North-East,” provides a platform to forge a path toward resilience, sustainability, and long-term prosperity for our people.
He explained that the summit would create an avenue to explore innovative solutions, share knowledge, and build partnerships that will ensure that the North-East not only adapts to the effects of climate change but also becomes a model of climate resilience for other regions.
The managing director stressed that the objectives of organising the summit are clear: to increase awareness about the impact of natural assets, strengthening climate resilience, identifying gaps associated with policy and governance, and most importantly, set a direction for a coordinated response to these environmental challenges.
In addition, Alkali assured that the commission remained committed to fostering sustainable development in line with the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan which ensures that climate action is central to our programs.
On his part, Gombe state Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Jatau, said being a government with foresight, the State Government under the leadership of Muhammadu Yahaya, did “need assessment” of the residents in the state on coming to power in 2019. The priority needs were security, health, education, agriculture, among others .
Against this background, a Ten-year Development Plan 2021-2030 was initiated.
He said while these priorities were pursued with great and equal zeal and political will, agriculture which is closely related to the central theme of this 3-day event, climate change, is being mentioned for obvious reasons.
Jatau noted: “Agriculture is so important that about 80 per cent of the population in Gombe state are engaged in it. It is the lowest lying fruit available that will be picked by the population, because they will not be required to learn a new or different profession. The farmers need to learn, to comprehend, adapt and implement new methods of farming. usage of quality seedlings, appropriate fertilizer type, etc.
“Much as the government engaged and encouraged agriculture, a challenge was foreseen, based on reports by concerned bodies on climate, and everything to do with it, at the various world conferences.
“Having taken a critical look at our environment, with the dwindling rainfall, early withdrawal of rains, “fast travelling” desertification and deforestation, the Governor came up with a program Tripple G — Gombe Goes Green, which aims at planting one million trees each year of the administration.
“Woodlots have been created in each of the 11 Local Government Area Councils. The state has since surpassed its target, yet we are planting. Plans are on to involve NYSC Corps in the scheme by requesting each corps member to plant and nurse a tree during the year he/she is serving in the state. Forest Rangers were employed to monitor the cutting of trees and ensure the planting of trees in place of the fallen ones.”
Jatau pointed out that if there are doubting “Thomases” on the issue of Climate Change, events and happenings in the environment of recent where “magic” selective rainfall were witnessed has cleared those doubts.
As the world continues to contend with the devastating effects of climate change, proactive steps and the strategic implementation of NESDMP would go a long way in mitigating the impact of climate change.