By Oboh Linus
Oxfam, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has called on Nasarawa State Government to integrate African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project objectives into its programmes for sustainable climate change activities in the state.
Canny Geyer, Head of International Operations for Oxfam Novib, Netherlands, made the call in Lafia during the AACJ project assessment visit to Nasarawa State.
Oxfam is supporting a 5 year AACJ project in Nasarawa State, with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Geyer said the call was necessary to ensure the sustainability of climate change activities in the state as the AACJ project winds down, noting that Oxfam was always willing to support the state government.
He urged the state government to provide a mechanism for the community to be able to hold the state and federal governments accountable for contributions and commitments they have made to climate change.
“My plea to the state government is to embed some of the objectives of the AACJ project into Government programmes because sustainability ultimately is something that comes from the government,” he said.
Geyer said his team which comprised of the Country lead for the AACJ project in Nigeria, Dr Kenneth Akpan and implementing partners had earlier visited the Chairman House Committee on Environment, Mohammed Omadefu.
According to him, the visit among other things is to see the commitment of the House Committee on Environment toward climate change activities at the state level.
“We hope that with the passing of climate change bill by the state legislature in the coming weeks, Nasarawa state could be able to provide the means for the community to engage in climate change activities,” he said.
“I am always very encouraged to see the level of participation this project gets from the community level, from the interaction we had right now, you can hear appreciation the community shown toward both YMCA as well as Oxfam.
“I think is really important also for Oxfam to be able to show our appreciation to the community too, ultimately, this project really was a recommendation from the community,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Ango Adamu, Executive Secretary, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Mada Hills, said the visit enabled the Oxfam team to interact with the beneficiaries of the AACJ project in various communities.
“Farmers from different communities who are into briquette production, community nursery establishment, community development plan and all sorts of advocacies are here today to interact with one another,” he said.
Earlier at the Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Omadefu, Chairman, House Committee on Environment, assured the team that the climate change bill would soon be passed by the State Assembly.
Omadefu appealed to the Government of the Netherlands to shift its attention to erosion-affected areas in Nasarawa State as the programme winds down.
Some of the beneficiaries of the AACJ project in Nasarawa State, Justina Bala and Emmanuel Envoh and several others while interacting with the team, gave accounts of how the AACJ project impacted their lives and their communities.
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