HOT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO DISPLACEMENT OF NIGERIANS - TAMBUWAL

BY BEN AGANDE
ABUJA- SPEAKER, House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal yesterday warned that extreme weather conditions being experienced in the country was capable of leading to demographic displacements across the nation and called on relevant agencies of government to strategise for future negotiations.

Tambuwal stated this while declaring open the review hearing on outcome of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,UNFCC, in Durban, South Africa, between November 28 and December 11, 2011.

Yesterday's hearing was organised by House Committee on Climate Change, headed by Eziuche Ubani.

The Speaker, who was represented by Deputy Minority Whip, Garba Datti, expressed regrets that the Durban summit failed to achieve an agreement that would have replaced the Kyoto Protocol.

He noted that Third World countries which made little contribution of Green House gas emission were the ones bearing the brunt.

Tambuwal, however, noted that despite being at the receiving end of the Green House gas emission, this should not be a reason for developing countries not to act.

He said: 'We have to bear the hard road to cutting down the effects of climate change by playing our own roles.'

In his opening remarks, Ubani  explained that the hearing was necessitated by concerns that 'politics, rather than a shared responsibility to safeguard our planet has taken over the negotiation process.'

In her goodwill message, Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, said  while Nigeria could 'boast of moderate achievement, there is need to make a secured effort at addressing the issue of climate change.'

He said:  'Pure market considerations appear to override the need for every nation to hold hands and roll back this clear and present danger,' pointing out that  'while the Federal Ministry of Environment may understand the issues, its efforts are besotted by minimum political power to and budgetary constraints.'

He said there was need to develop a strategy with which to negotiate in future summits, stressing that the committee would lead the way to developing Nigeria's first climate change policy.

Director General of National Emergency Managemnt Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Sani Sidi, said climate change adaptation must be implemented in line with global drive, while the country must assess early warnings as a way of reducing the vulnerability of Nigerians.