By Godwin Agia, Taraba
Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, has launched the state’s Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, describing the initiative as a critical decision on the future of the state’s environment and natural resources.
The policy was unveiled in Jalingo on Friday, with the governor calling on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), local government councils, traditional institutions and citizens to take active steps towards its implementation.
Kefas said the policy was designed to protect Taraba’s forests, rivers and other natural resources while building resilience against the growing effects of climate change.
> “We are taking the decision about the future of Taraba. We are deciding whether our forests will still be standing and whether our rivers will still be flowing,” the governor said.
He noted that climate change was already affecting agriculture and communities across the state, citing unpredictable rainfall patterns and drying rivers as growing threats to farmers and residents.
According to him, the policy covers critical sectors, including health, infrastructure and education, and is intended to ensure that environmental considerations become an integral part of government planning and development.
The governor stressed that climate action must take into account the needs of farmers, warning that any climate policy that fails to support agricultural communities would not achieve its objectives.
He therefore urged residents to protect forests, discourage bush burning and adopt practices that would help preserve the environment.
Kefas also called for improved waste management, noting that climate action would be difficult to achieve if streets and drainage systems remained blocked by waste.
He said climate resilience must be mainstreamed into Taraba’s development plans, with local governments playing a leading role because issues such as flooding, waste disposal and bush burning largely occur at the community level.
The governor said the success of the Climate Change Policy would not be measured by the number of conferences and workshops held, but by tangible improvements in communities.
He called for collaboration between the Taraba State Government, the Federal Government, the National Council on Climate Change, international partners and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the policy and action plan.
Kefas further urged citizens to contribute to climate action by planting and protecting trees and discouraging activities that damage the environment.
He described Taraba as a state richly endowed with mountains, rivers and forests, stressing that the natural resources must be protected for present and future generations.
The governor declared that the Climate Change Policy had come to stay and would form an integral part of the state’s development agenda.
Climate action requires collective responsibility
Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Hajiya Aishat B. Barde, called on MDAs, local government councils, traditional institutions, communities, youth and women groups, the private sector and development partners to embrace their responsibilities in implementing the policy.
Barde described climate action as a shared responsibility requiring collective commitment, effective coordination and sustained efforts.
She said the launch marked the beginning of a new phase of coordinated and measurable climate action in Taraba State.
According to her, the policy would help the state build an environmentally sustainable, economically prosperous and climate-resilient society.
The commissioner appreciated Natural Eco Capital, Society for Planet and Prosperity, and the African Climate Foundation for providing financial and technical support towards the development of the policy.
She also commended Governor Kefas for creating an enabling environment and prioritising climate action as part of his administration’s development agenda.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
