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By Muinat Usman
Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling climate change through collaboration, resource allocation, and public sensitization.
Governor AbdulRazaq made the pledge in Ilorin at a stakeholders’ engagement on climate change policy and action plan, organized by the State Ministry of Environment.
Represented by his Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salahu, Governor AbdulRazaq pointed out that unchecked human activities such as deforestation, charcoal production, refuse burning, and indiscriminate waste disposal have worsened climate change, with dire implications for food security and public health.
He noted that climate change is already affecting crop production and farm yields due to erratic rainfall patterns, stating that his administration has approved various initiatives to mitigate its impact.
The Governor stressed that the engagement was designed to align Kwara with Goal 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on climate action.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Musa Buge, explained that the programme was part of efforts to sensitize stakeholders on environmental challenges, particularly in the face of rising population growth.
She called for collective action on waste management, noise control, water channelization, and tree planting.
In a keynote address, Professor Emmanuel Oladipo of Lagos State University warned that biodiversity loss caused by human activities such as land-use changes, pollution, and deforestation threatens ecosystem services and long-term development.
He called for an integrated policy framework that addresses both environmental degradation and economic growth.
Edited by Abdullahi Ahmed
