By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State Government has reiterated its commitment to squarely addressing issues of climate change in the state to keep the citizens safe and secure.
The Commissioner of the Ministry of Housing and Environment, Danlami Kawule stated this at a One-Day Worksop and Panel Discussion on Climate Change under the topic Urban Innovation for Climate Change Experience in Bauchi organized by the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency with support from the University of Sheffield Uk held Thursday in Bauchi.
“The government is committed to putting in place measures to mitigate the issues of climate change among which is the year planting of trees in different parts of the state.”
The Commissioner urged the participants to come up with solutions that can help address the effects of climate change on both humans and livestock.
Director General of Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Dr Ibrahim Kabir said the impact of climate change is among us in the environment as can be seen with issues of recurrent flooding, desertification, and soil erosion.
“Before now, we only heard reports of climate change, in foreign countries, but today we have it with us, we can see it, we can feel it. It is a reality, we don’t have to go far away.”
“The trees are gone, and green vegetation is turning brown, dried, and gone. As it is now, there is no difference between the Northern and Southern zones of the state. Desertification is gradually getting worse. We must stand up and act swiftly to save the environment.”
Kabir stressed the need to put heads together on how to get out of this situation, which is the objective of the workshop.
Speaking at the panel of discussion former program manager Bauchi State Agricultural Development program, Ja’far Ilella said climate change has greatly affected Agriculture and livestock production thus harming the nutrition content of crops.
“Farmers are now cultivating at a higher risk, pests have become resistant to agrochemicals.”
Another panelist Professor Isa Mohammed said that the pattern and regime of rainfall have changed over time noting that the quantum of rainfall has also changed.
“Urban development development has taken away vegetation thus forcing migration of livestock.”
