FIC Report (Abia State) – The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has opined that man made factors and activities are responsible for the depletion of the Ozone layer and the change in weather conditions.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, disclosed this while receiving in his office, at Government House, the Director General of National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS), Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe and her team who are on a working visit.
Dr. Otti revealed that his government is a government that is interested in restoring, conserving and protecting of the mangrove, hence, it’s plan to adopt the Ecuador cocoa practice where cocoa is planted in the forest.
In his words ‘Abia government has plan to pilot six cocoa estates and at the same time promise not to deplete the population of trees, but will implement cocoa practice as is obtained in Ecuador where cocoa is planted in the forest thereby gaining carbon credit”.
He also noted that his government also plans to derive power through an off-grid solar system inorder to step away from fossil fuel and save the environment.
Dr. Otti commended NCCCS for the good work they are doing on climate change and noted that the availability of the Abia State climate change investors readiness document shows that they are ready to work with them and harness any available opportunity.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, revealed that the Director General of the Nigeria Climate change council (NCCCS), Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe and her team are in Abia State to continue the assessment of the Niger Delta mangroove forest and that there mission is to specifically see how they can restore, conserve and protect the mangroove forest.
He thanked the Governor for giving them maximum support stressing that since the inception of Governor Alex Otti’s administration, the State has made some giants strides in climate change as it is ranked 8th in climate change mitigation issues.
Also speaking, the Director General, NCCCS, Dr Nkeiruka Madueke Stated that their mission is to assess the mangrooves in Abia state, amplify nature based solutions to climate change, identify mangrooves for Nigeria to harness it with regards to carbon illustration and coastal resilience and also aim at improving the livelihood of communities.
In her words “we came to see for ourselves the need for assessment, what are the gaps, what should federal government do to further support the state in ensuring, restoration, conservation and protection of the mangrooves”.
She commended Abia state government for the strides they have made in addressing climate change and appealed to the state government to adopt the climate change act of 2021 and to have Abia state climate law.
“It is important to have a legal frame work that addresses climate change and what it embodies. The Abia investment readiness document fits into the climate change fund and they are able to harness to climate finance especially to the peculiarities of Abia state in addition to other things contained in the act”.
Signed
Amah Ijeoma
FIC Correspondent
Deputy Governor’s office
