Minister of State, Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, second from left, with Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Wouter Plomp, and other officials of Africa Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) during a visit to the ministry of Environment in Abuja on Friday
By Chidiebere Ugwu
The Africa Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria have approached the Federal Ministry of Environment seeking partnership in order to address climate injustice in Africa.
The group, led by the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Wouter Plomp, made the demand during a visit to the ministry saying the collaboration will effectively drive climate justice, climate policies, climate actions, climate mobilization as well as climate awareness in the continent of Africa.
Speaking during the visit, the Minister of State, Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, committed to working with the group urging ‘Count me in as one of your advocate’.
The Minister stressed the need for continuous engagement with the people so that there can be cross fertilization of ideas.
“When we are talking about environmental issues, climate issues the actions of government is great but with the people, those actions will not have any impact . So what so ever government is doing, we must continuously engage with the people so that there can be that cross fertilization of ideas, people knows what government is doing, government knows what people are doing and therefore all of us can continuously improve and CSO, NGO can be part of the people.
“The effect of climate change on health is very very big. I will be very happy to come on board with you to join you in ensuring that we drive the need change we desire to see. Count me in as one of your advocate” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Kenneth Akpan, the Project Coordinator of the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) for OXFAM, presenting insights into the activities of the group, lamented that Africa suffers more with regards to the effects of climate change even though its contributions to climate degradation is less than 3 per cent.
He said that the programmes of group in Africa worth 50 million Euros which has been proposed by the Dutch government, have recorded a lot of successes, even in Nigeria.
According to Akpan, the AACJ project aims to amplify the voices of vulnerable individuals, particularly women, youths, and those with disabilities, in dealing with climate change impacts.
He therefore called on the Minister of State Environment to join in driving the projects of mobilizing communities, creating awareness of climate change effects, among others things.
“The essence of this project is to see that Africa have a voice when it comes to climate change and climate change issues. It’s noticed that there has been a gap that Africa suffer more on the impact of climate change and we have contributed as little as 3% to the voice.
There is need for Africa to be at the table when decisions are being made around climate change. There was a need to bring about together the CSO communities, youth, woman groups to form a platform were their voices will be heard” he said.
In his remarks, Benson Simba, the Head of Projects Management Unit, AACJ Consortium, noted that Africa needs greater focus on adaptation.
“Africa needs greater focus on adaptation and we think the Nairobi declaration missed to address adaptation” he said.
