Kaduna gov’t partners CSOs on climate change

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna.

Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has expressed readiness to establish a dialogue platform with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), to propel tackling climate change and environmental degradation in the state.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Ibrahim Garba Hussaini, announced this when he received the Special Assistant to Governor, Senator Uba Sani on Climate Change Yusuf Idris Amoke and Civil society organizations (CSOs) partners in his office.
Hussaini, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Linda Yakubu said that the Kaduna state government had subscribed to the Open Government Partnership, therefore the doors of the ministry are widely open for CSOs to contribute their quota.
According to him, there is no gainsaying that Climate change endangers the security of humans, economies, ecosystems, and societies, and has become one of the biggest problems faced by mankind over the last two decades.
He therefore said the state governments, civil society, and the private sector have no choice but to work together to formulate policies and take actions to adapt and mitigate to the impacts of climate change.
He disclosed that Civil society has been included in several government policies for climate change adaptation.
In a remark, the Special Assistant on Climate change Yusuf Idris Amoke explained that the visit aimed to work towards a plan that can stabilize the state and make its environment habitable for the citizens and also build goals that align with the agenda of the governor of the state, Senator Uba Sani, to make Kaduna great
He added that the meeting was also to further explore the role played by civil society, what factors and strategies help civil society, and what factors act as a barrier to influence, saying? Collaboratively working with non-state actors can help to a certain extent.
He admitted that he enjoys working with these organizations as they are the drivers of government policies in the state and also applauded organizations with goals that align with government plans.
Amoke said the partnership is aimed at bringing positive transformation to the state and also to increase the abilities of the ministry for the goodwill of the state.
He stressed that Increasing hunger is driven by the worsening climate crisis.
“ It’s harder to grow food in the face of supercharged storms, more intense droughts, and rising sea levels. Climate change disproportionately affects people in vulnerable situations and threatens their rights.
“Climate change also exacerbates pressure on the land, alongside the growth in demand for natural resources. Poor communities find themselves in competition with powerful interests control over the land, water, forest, and energy resources that they depend upon for survival”, he said.