Why Nigeria Faces Severe Climate Change Problems – President Buhari
BY GRACE ANYANWU, ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in New York gave some insights into the severe climate challenges confronting Nigeria.
Buhari, who stated this at a meeting with the Nigerian Youths Climate Group shortly before his departure for Abuja at the conclusion of his engagements on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74), said Nigeria is a neighbour to the Sahara Desert.
He also said that Lake Chad is shrinking while population is exploding, adding that it is a challenging situation, saying that with less land, less rainfall, these are very unique problems for the country.
The President lauded the youths for representing Nigeria at UNGA as Climate Change Champions, adding, “It is good you are participating so that you can appreciate the problems older people are having.”
In her own remarks, Esther Agbarakwe, one of the leaders of the youth group, said this is the first time they saw a President sit with them.
According to her; “It gives us hope. We young people understand the problems, and are in the vanguard of advocacy. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Climate Change Department works with us for solutions.”
She also commended the support the group is receiving from the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed and the Ministry of Environment, stressing, “We are in it together.”
On his part, Hamzat Lawal, also one of the leaders of the group, thanked President Buhari for signing the Not Too Young to Run Bill into law.
He said; “We seek solutions to problems in the Sahel region. If we provide solutions to the Sahel, the world will be at peace. You have announced planting of 25 million tress and we youths plan to match it.”
