Stakeholders in the environment sector have called for articulate and strategic plans that would address the nation’s climate change crisis in terms of adaptation and mitigation at the forthcoming Conference of the Parties, (COP28), in the United Arab Emirates.

Besides, they said desertification, flooding, impact of oil pollution in Niger Delta region; shift and long-term temperature and weather conditions are challenges that needed urgent attention all over the country, adding, we need to secure climate finance in these areas.

In a presentation, Emir of Nasarawa, Ibrahim Jibril, who spoke at the Pre-COP28 Seminar organised by Development Agenda Magazine and Environmental Media Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Abuja, saying, environmental issues have become top-charts across the globe.

Jibril, a former Minister of State for Environment, stated, “This is a wakeup call for all governments, stakeholders to get involved, saying, the seminar was very important to provide an opportunity for introspection with regard to response to the problem of climate change.

Also, the Conservator General, National Park Service, Ibrahim Goni, noted the theme: Climate Change and COP28: The Way Forward for Nigeria, is apt and urged all levels of government to mitigate climate change challenges.

Similarly, he emphasised that environmental challenges have a serious impact on living conditions globally, adding, any attempt not to address them with the seriousness it deserves would spell disaster for the world and the entire country.

In his part, Paddy Ezeala of Development Agenda Magazine explained that the forum was meant for stocktaking on the state of environment and evaluates various climate issues confronting the country.

He cited the Sahel region, especially, the international boundaries with Niger and Chad, which is under the severe menace of desertification, and evokes the image of aridity.

“In Southern Nigeria, it is as if war has been declared on the natural environment, not even protected areas are spared. Massive and uncontrolled logging has been taking place in many states. The level of illegal logging in Cross River, Edo, Ogun and some states in North Central is disturbing.”

According to him, between 1981 and 2000, Nigeria lost 3.7 million hectares of forests. At present, less than 4 per cent of the country’s untouched rainforest cover is left. More frightening is the fact that loss is still continuing at the rate of more than 3.5 per cent yearly.

Ezeala wants the government to harness the potential of the forests in the development of eco-tourism and scientific research rather than continue with illegal logging and wildlife trafficking and the remaining forests harbour about 4,000 different species of plants.

In his presentation, Prof. Edem Eniang of Nasarawa State University regretted that a larger population of people has not recognised the nexus between well-managed biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation, saying, “there lies an enormous window of opportunities for us.”

The Chairman, Women Environment Programme, Dr. Priscilla Achakpa, said: “Women’s participation in the climate negotiations continues to fall short of gender balance, with COP27 having 35 per cent women’s participation.”

Deputy Conservator of Park, Cross River National Park, Carol Olory, stated that Nigeria is experiencing the effects of climate change, which is happening at frightening rates, adding that the panacea to cushion the effect is using forests as carbon sinks, to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Earlier, Chairman, Environmental Media Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Amechi Oyema called on the stakeholders to articulate strategic plans that would protect the ecological integrity of National Parks through protective conservation.