Communiqué: Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Nigeria

Communiqué of South-South Regional Workshop On Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Nigeria organised by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), held in Asaba, Delta State 19th - 21st July, 2011.

Preamble:

A regional workshop on climate change adaptation and disaster management, organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), held at Orchid Hotel, Asaba from 19th – 21st July, 2011. The workshop was declared open by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama (SAN). The welcome address was delivered by the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi. Participants were drawn from the relevant Ministries and Parastatals of the six states which make up the zone. These include Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Cross River States. Federal Ministries of Environment, Niger Delta Affairs, Water Resources, Special Duties, Agriculture and Rural Development, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ecological Funds Office, Abuja and National Orientation Agency were represented. Also, Directors of Personnel, Heads of Agriculture from Local Government Councils, Community heads, Journalists, Director Generals and Secretaries of State Emergency Management Agencies and heads of Local Government Emergency Management Committees, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Nigerian Red Cross Society and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) attended the workshop.

The Executive Governor of Delta State in his opening address observed that Delta State and other South-South States are facing the challenges of Climate Change. Specifically, the region is affected by floods, ocean surges and complications induced by oil spillage and petroleum exploitation. His Excellency informed that Delta State Government has set up an inter-ministerial and departmental flood monitoring committee. In the address presented by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, called for the need to do more work to win the war on Climate Change and make our Disaster Risk Management more effective in Nigeria through appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures. He concluded that Akwa Ibom State identifies with the objectives of the workshop and looks forward to adopting and implementing the recommendations therefrom. In his welcome address, the DG-NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, noted that Climate Change has indeed become a global issue and Nigeria has shown positive commitment towards tackling the challenges. He further informed that this Regional workshop holding in Asaba is a testimony of this effort. He opined that the hazards of Climate Change have serious implications for Disaster Managers and highly vulnerable communities.

Technical Session:
Five lead papers were presented:
Paper 1. Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change in Nigeria by Professor Daniel Gwary
Paper 2. Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation into Sustainable Development Programme of States and Federal Governments by Dr Mohammad Lawal Balarabe
Paper 3. The Challenges of Flooding and Coastal Erosion in Nigeria by Professor Charles Oyegun
Paper 4. The Role of Environmental Management in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation by Professor Samuel Arokoyu
Paper 5. Community Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation in Nigeria by Mr Kayode Fagbemi (representing NEMA)
The plenary session was followed by syndicate group discussion.

Syndicate Group Discussion:
Participants were divided into two groups, viz: Mitigation group and Adaptation group. Find below the observations and resolutions of the groups.

Mitigation:
The group discussed the papers presented and clearly identified the major Climate Change related disasters common in the region. The causes and ways of mitigating the challenges were outlined and specific recommendations made for the region as outlined below.

Observations:
1. Increased incidence of flooding worsened by blocked drainages and constructions on waterways.
2. Pollution brought about by increase in Greenhouse gas emission arising from the burning of fossil fuels; acid rains resulting from gas flaring; agrochemicals and oil spillage.
3. Increase in the incidence of extreme weather conditions resulting in accelerated erosion
4. Deforestation due to illegal logging and fuel wood gathering.

Resolution:
State Climate Change Office and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) should be established where none exists and equipped with adequate resources to tackle the challenges of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in the region. The States’ Ecological Funds should be reinforced and utilised appropriately.

Adaptation:
This group analysed the coping strategies arising from the presentations, questions and comments made at the workshop. The group used the sectoral approach and came up with the following:

Observations:
1. Inadequate implementation, compliance and enforcement of planning regulations in the States
2. Non-compliance with existing policy framework on infrastructure, water, transport, solid waste management and environmental regulations.
3. Non-domestication of existing National Policy on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the region.

Resolution:
The group resolved that the State/Local Governments in the region should focus on Sustainable Ecosystem Management, Information sharing on Adaptation techniques and strict adherence to proper developmental plans.

Recommendations:
1. Implementation, enforcement, compliance and review of existing urban and regional policies in the States.
2. The domestication and implementation of Disaster Contingency Plans and other environmental policies by the States and Local Governments.
3. The need for the construction of central drainage systems consisting of interconnected flood reservoirs fitted with valves at various levels and discharge pumps.
4. Canalization of the swamps to ease transportation alongside the channelization of rivers to confine river discharge to their channels and boost tourism.
5. There is the need for the surveying and mapping of flood prone areas so as to reduce vulnerability and the risk of hazards in coastal communities.
6. The need for integrated water resources management approach in planning, development and management of water resources in the entire region.
7. There is also the need for the development of sustainable agricultural practices, efficient farming systems, aquaculture/marine culture and improved animal husbandry and efficient land use system to ensure food security.
8. There is the need to reinforced the existing extension services in the States for efficient environmental protection and agricultural development
9. There is the need for community based conservation, afforestation and reforestation programmes
10. Adoption of mass transit systems involving multi modal transportation system rails (subways, sky trains), water ways, and buses
11. Integrated Solid Waste Management system through Public Private Partnership (PPP) with emphasis on Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.
12. Development of alternative sources of energy including Hydro, Solar, Wind, Biofuel and other forms of Renewable energy.
13. The use of treated mosquito nets and improved health care delivery system
14. Need to strengthen Human Capacity Development and advocacy at all levels.
15. Establish Call Centres to facilitate emergency responses.
16. Public enlightenment in English and Local dialects on local TV/Radio stations and strengthening CBOs, NGOs, FBOs and traditional institutions for advocacy and awareness creation at the grass-root.
17. Research Institutes, Universities, Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the region should be empowered by Federal and State Governments to collect and analyze environmental data to facilitate the development of Early Warning Systems (EWS)
18. Government should discourage gas flaring, encourage the establishment of functional refineries that are environmentally friendly to reduce pollution and ensure prompt clean up response to oil spillage
19. Roads should be appropriately designed and constructed with drainages
20. All states in the region should have a Biodiversity Action Plan
21. All states should set up special committees for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management at community levels
22. There should be synergy in development plans in the region between the three tiers of government through appropriate empowerment of the people, and ensuring proper derivation formula, having realised the fragile nature of the region’s ecosystem

Conclusion:
The workshop resolved that the Governments of the region should focus on Sustainable Ecosystem Development, information sharing on Adaptation techniques and strict adherence to development plans

We wish to use this medium to express our gratitude and appreciation to the traditional rulers/elder council of Delta State for hosting us and the opportunity to serve our dear nation in this capacity.

Signed by:
Professor Charles Oyegun
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Engr. Calistus Ojieubo.
Honourable Commissioner
Ministry of Lands and Housing
Edo State

Mrs. J.E Young
Permanent Secretary
Delta State Emergency Relief Agency,
Asaba, Delta State

Professor Daniel Musa Gwary
IPCC Lead Author (AR3 & AR4 Reports)
Department of Crop Protection
University of Maiduguri
Maiduguri, Borno State
Professor Samuel Arokoyu
The Director,
Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies
University of Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Dr. M. L. Balarabe
Department of Biological Sciences,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Kaduna State

Chief Innocent Adikwu,
The Media Consultant,
National Emergency Management Agency

Mr. Kayode Fagbemi
National Emergency Management Agency

Mrs. Soe-Alaibi Nwokocha
Ministry of Special Duties,
River State,

Mr. Babarinde Mukaila
Climate Change Unit,
Federal Ministry of Water Resources,
Old Federal Secretariat,
Area 1, Abuja

***Adopted by Engr. Ajabor Chudi Eddy, Ministry of Water Resources Development, Delta State and seconded by Sani Babba, Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Abuja.