A member of the House of Representatives, Terseer Ugbor, has called on governments at all levels to prioritize afforestation and smart agricultural initiatives as key strategies to combat climate change and food insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Nigerian Climate Change Forum in Abuja, Ugbor emphasized the urgent need for large-scale reforestation to address the country’s growing food shortages.
Representing the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Ugbor lamented the depletion of Rosewood, commonly known as ‘Madrid,’ which once thrived in his constituency.
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“As long as we fail to prioritize tree planting and reforestation, we will continue to lose habitat and biodiversity, exacerbating the effects of climate change,” he said.
He attributed increasing desertification, droughts, and erratic rainfall to the neglect of afforestation, warning that these factors are significantly contributing to Nigeria’s environmental and agricultural challenges.
“As parliamentarians, our priority is to advance policies and legislation that address these pressing issues,” he added.
Ugbor also revealed ongoing efforts to enhance the Environmental Impact Assessment Act by incorporating social components, transforming it into an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment framework.
According to him, this amendment will ensure that stakeholders assess not only the environmental impact of their activities but also their effects on the welfare and livelihoods of Nigerians and local communities.
