Presidential forum on environment, climate change holds February 7 in Abuja

Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), in collaboration with its partners, We the People, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and University of Abuja, is hosting a town hall meeting with the presidential candidates on assessing Nigeria’s environment and climate change challenges in the context of policy options ahead of this year’s general elections.

Billed for February 7 at the Main Auditorium, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Abuja, the meeting is informed by the need for the environment and climate justice community and Nigerians to assess and interrogate the plans and policies of the political parties in addressing the numerous environment and climate crises bedevilling Nigeria. 

Over 1,000 participants, including civil society, the media, professional organisations, trade unions, students and the academia are expected at the event.

In a statement, yesterday, Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, noted: “While the well-being of the environment is a critical factor in a nation, where most citizens depend directly on it for their existence, the issue has not been topical in the election conversation.”

“The challenges of climate change in Nigeria have intensified in recent years. Nigeria, being one of the most impacted frontline countries, has seen an accelerated rate of desertification, deforestation and flooding, twin manifestations that have seriously threatened security and food sufficiency. Similarly, the production of crude oil and gas has resulted in profound destruction of the environment, especially in the Niger Delta.
“Twelve years after the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the state of the Ogoni environment, no significant action has been taken to remediate and curtail further oil pollution in the region.”

The gathering, he added, provides a veritable platform for the presidential standard-bearers to discuss their plans and strategies for addressing critical environmental and climate challenges facing the country with the electorate.