Israel Umoh
Scientists have raised alarm that the world sits on fire, dispelling the erroneous belief by some people that this would cause the world to end in the next six years.
Rather, they believe that during this period, climate emergency caused by excessive heat will result in heavy flooding to affect Agricultural production particularly in the Southern part of Nigeria.
The Dean, Faculty of Computing and Applied Sciences, Topfaith University, Mkpatak in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Professor Nsikak Benson, who stated this at NUJ Press Centre, Uyo on Monday, December 3, noted that the global temperature is moving to 1.34 degree Celsius, against the 2015 Paris Agreement of 1.5 degree Celsius.
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The Paris Agreement legally binds international treaty on climate change and was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016
Benson speaking at the opening of the 2023 NUJ Press Week on the theme: Development Journalism: Setting the Agenda on Climate Change decried the dormant attitude given to the ongoing climate change.
‘‘In recent years, the scale of the climate emergency has grown and the intensity of urgency has exacerbated. The UN has stated that ‘The era of global boiling has arrived, 2023 is set to be the hottest on record,’ with climate change wrecking havoc on human life and livelihoods, around the world.
‘‘Greenhouse gas levels are record high; sea level rise is record high; Antarctic sea ice is record low; climate change plays out through more extreme weather. We are witnessing record-breaking heat waves and raging wildfires to catastrophic storms and floods; drought afflicted millions.
‘‘In 2023, the climate crisis has been devastating lives, economies, and our ecosystems, and this is just the beginning. The World Maritime Organisation preliminary global climate data until October 2023, reveal a temperature approximately 1.43 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. El-Nino may turn up the heat even further in 2024,’’ the Analytical & Environmental Chemistry expert remarked.
He noted that the disruptive consequences of the global heat would accelerate more heat in the Antarctic Sea, resulting in flash flooding in Akwa Ibom State and other Southern parts of the parts of the country.
The Professor expressed fear that the effects of heavy flooding occurring in the Northern part of the country would be replicated in the South, thus posing serious danger to different means of livelihood in the South.
The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Udeme Otong said ‘‘As one of Nigeria’s emerging economy, Akwa Ibom’s wide range of livelihood are threatened by climate change. Recently, some of our people in the coastal communities like Ibeno have experienced Ocean surge, increasing their vulnerability to flooding and waterborne diseases.
‘‘Additionally, the amount of rainfall as well as rising temperature all have impacts on agricultural production and fishing and by extension, food security, health and nutrition needs of our people.’’
Otong who was represented by Hon. Jerry Otu, member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency in the house, said ‘‘climate disasters are happening at frightening rates in Nigeria. Available statistics indicates that in 2022 alone, flooding killed at least 662 people, injured 3,174, displaced about 2.5 million people, and destroyed 200,000 houses.
‘‘Currently, about 178 local government areas (LGAs) in 32, out of the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, fall within the highly probable flood risk areas, according to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). Another 224 of the country’s 744 LGAs fall within moderately probable flood risk areas, while 372 LGAs fall within probable flood risk areas.
‘‘Nigeria’s more than 830 kilometres of coastline are increasingly threatened by floods, erosion, water and air pollution. Communities in the Niger Delta states bordering the Atlantic Ocean have lost or fear losing their homes and farmlands due to the eroding bedrock shielding the shoreline and forests are disappearing because of desertification.
‘‘Flood alone is taking a high toll on life and livelihoods, agriculture, livestock, infrastructure and the environment. The frequency of natural disasters in the country links to climate change,’’ Otong observed.
He admonished journalists that ‘‘it is our duty to create awareness on preventive and precautionary measures of these disasters. We must enlighten our people on the implications of burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests, as these activities influence the climate and the earth’s temperature, increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming.’’
Speaking also, the state Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, lamented the extent the global warning has caused the world especially the unusual climatic changes.
According to him, ‘‘Before now, in December, rains would have stopped giving way to sunshine. It is difficult to differentiate rainy season from dry season owing to the changing climatic conditions.’’
Ememobong who castigated most multinationals which are the sponsors of Climate Summit are the violators of the environmental laws in mostly African countries, doubting their sincerity in implementing the decisions of the Summit to favour the developing countries which are like vassal states to them.’’
Earlier, Comrade Amos Etuk, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa ibom State Council, said ‘‘The NUJ joins this global discourse on climate change away from the usual conversation about politics for us to share ideas, make contributions, offer perspectives and commit to actions that would address concerns over these issues, using the media to set the agenda that would mould public opinion.
‘‘It is pertinent to note that the theme of this gathering is engaging stakeholders globally who have converged in Dubai for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, tagged COP 28, where issues aimed at finding resolutions and the commitment of Governments to a clean future will be discussed from December 1–12, 2023.
‘‘Our own President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, joined other world leaders last Wednesday in Dubai immediately after presenting the 2024 Budget estimates to the National Assembly.
‘‘Nigeria’s position at the conference is strategically focused on the development of renewable energy, the challenge of climate change in Nigeria, the development and implementation of technological content to address these issues, the energy transition, climate financing, capacity building, desertification, flooding and our collective commitment to drive the new templates. Agro News recently described 2023 as the hottest year so far, and this has had implications for our ecosystem globally.’’
