Nigeria’s population needs to be properly managed, says Hamzat

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has stressed the need for Nigeria to control the population to limit the threat of climate change and protect the environment.

Hamzat, who spoke at a lecture to celebrate the 70th birthday and retirement of distinguished Prof. Babajide Ibitayo Alo, said the nation needs to manage its population, especially as there are many fathers who cannot meet up with the challenge of raising their children.

The deputy governor, while deploring the widespread lack of parental responsibilities, comparing the population growth of Nigeria with that of the United Kingdom, noted that there was a significant increase from 67 million to over 200 million within 61 years.

In his lecture, titled: ‘The Role and Perspective of Government in Resolving Current Issues on Global Environmental Challenges’, Hamzat, described climate change as a threat to humanity; one that needs deliberate and immediate preventive actions.

He said Lagos State, in the last 10 to 14 years, took climate change issues seriously by putting together numerous policy frameworks and adopting global best practices to shape government’s response.

He said: “We are aware that as a highly vulnerable coastal state with a rapidly growing population, we must act and act fast to protect its fragile ecosystems and populations in low-lying areas. Guided by the climate change scenarios and the target of achieving net-zero carbon emission by 2050, we identified series of climate action plans in the water, transport and energy sectors respectively.”

He stated that the government plans to expand the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, deploy low-emission buses, and provide vehicles to the BRT traffic edge of the city.

In his remarks, the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, solicited the cooperation of people in protecting the environment, saying government cannot do it alone and must rely on citizens’ support.

He said lukewarm support by citizens could hamper environmental policies from achieving desired effect.

In his inaugural lecture, the celebrant, Prof. Alo, urged government to deepen the domestication of training, research and development and improve local content drive in all sectors of the economy.