The South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO) has asked the federal and state governments to prioritise climate change in its budgets to facilitate effective mitigation measures.
The Head of Programme at SSDO, Udochukwu Egwim, who made the appeal during the Youth Climate Justice March, in Enugu, to mark the 2025 Global Week for Action on Climate Justice, stated that climate issues had come to stay.
During the awareness walk, several youths marched round the streets of Enugu carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘prioritise agroecology in state budget’; ‘climate adaptation is not charity’; ‘it’s justice; Nigeria can’t achieve sustainable development without climate resilience’; ‘hold polluters responsible,’ among others.
Egwim said the global awareness week is observed annually to stimulate the need to take actions on flooding, food insecurity, and other issues that negate the environment.
He urged governments, citizens, and individuals to embrace a just transition towards climate action, including climate financing and adaptation strategies.
Egwim said previous international calls for climate funding from the Global South to the North have been overlooked, stressing the need for Nigeria to implement adaptation and mitigation measures to combat climate change effectively.
“As part of our efforts, SSDO has been training young farmers in agroecology and related practices, encouraging broader participation in climate adaptation and mitigation.”
Egwim also highlighted specific climate impacts in Nigeria, such as rising food prices, food shortages, increased flooding, erosion, and unpredictable rainfall patterns affecting agriculture, which to him, are symptoms of climate change that require urgent attention.
He called on both government and citizens to prioritise climate actions through budgeting, reducing water and electricity consumption, and environmental cleanliness.
He urged citizens to avoid throwing trash into gutters, as improper waste disposal exacerbates flooding, which in turn worsens climate-related disasters.
