By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
Children Parliament has called on the federal government and other relevant stakeholders to institute action against climate change.
The representatives of the children who made the call included those from; Borno, Yobe and Cross River States.
The call was a resolve of a two-day child hearing on climate change and inequalities, organised by Save the Children International (SCI), Nigeria, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking, Miss Confidence Abah , an Advocate at Child Right Advocacy Club, Government Technical College Abakpa, Ogoja, Cross Rivers, said, climate change and inequality have led to slow economic growth and development, food scarcity, poverty, unemployment, insecurity with high rates of kidnapping, banditry, theft, and poor education.
She said that the children appreciated some initiatives by the government, and efforts being made by individuals, corporate organisations and development agencies aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change.
She however, said that the children feel concerned that they were not always involved or consulted while taking decisions that affect them the most.
“Children are not the cause of climate change and economic inequalities, but the impact is on us, is high in every aspect, the impact is even harder on children living with disabilities.
“Across Nigeria, children experience increased temperatures and polluted air leading to health problems such as asthma and other dangerous respiratory conditions; poor education, resulting from economic inequality.
“As we speak, schools are closing because of insecurity and universities are closed because of strike actions; increasingly, children are involved in social vices associated with poverty and unemployment.’’
Abah said that children were also exposed to trauma and limited ability to attain potentials; other areas children suffer are hunger and diseases and children continue to be limited in associating with their peers.
She said that as Nigerian children, they therefore called the government to implement policies to combate climate change like prohibit indiscriminate tree felling.
She said that the children want government to construct drainages, bridges and dams to reduce the incidence of the flood.
She added that the children also called on government to take action against gas flaring and oil spillage to reduce the negative impact on farming and water life.
Abah said that the government should include awareness programs on climate change and make public schools more conducive with well-paid and qualified teachers and adequate buildings, furniture, and gender-segregated toilets.
She said that government should enforce laws that would prohibit building of houses along waterways and make social amenities like boreholes, hospitals, schools, good roads and transport systems available to ease human suffering and labour for daily survival.
She also called on the government to prohibit early marriage so children could have right to education.
She further said that special attention should be paid to children living with disabilities by providing inclusive and special education.
Abah said the children the called on the media and civil society groups to Intensify awareness of climate change and inequalities by using their airtime.
“To our fellow children, our parents, and other adults, we urge you to lead by example by planting trees, keeping drainages clean, ensuring proper waste disposal and taking actions to reduce harmful gas emissions in the atmosphere.
Mr Ali Kolomi, Deputy Clerk of Borno Children Parliament, said that climate change affected the livelihood and occupation of their parents and called on the government to seek ways to tackle it and better their lives.
The children also called for the need to create programmes in schools to teach children on climate cchange and to prohibit digging of boreholes.
Mr Amanuel Mamo,Director Advocacy , Camlaign and Media ,SCI ,Nigeria said that the organisation viewd climate change as a child rights crisis.
Mamo said that was why climate change was one of the cross cutting issues at SCI to raise awareness and do intervention in accordance with the SDG goal in its new countries strategic plan.
“The World Health Organisation recently disclosed that an additional 95,000 children annually die as a result of climate change.
“So there is a negative consequence and children are here to share with us some of the things that they have discussed.”
