Nigerian scientists fault govt on climate change, Lokoja flood disaster

Chukwuma Muanya in the Guardian (Nigeria): The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has faulted the response of the Federal Government to the devastating effects of climate change in the country despite early warnings. The body also voiced concern that President Goodluck Jonathan was yet to sign the bill for the creation of the Climate Change Commission into law two years after it was passed by the National Assembly. It commended the president for adopting the Climate Change Policy.

The academy said climate change was impeding development in Africa, preventing Nigeria from meeting national objectives, and the continent from meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

To adequately address the devastating impact of climate change on the environment, health, agriculture, food security and the economy, and provide evidence-based advice to governments, the African Science Academies (ASA) from Uganda, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroun, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Madagascar and the United States National Academies of Science (USNAS) will meet in Lagos between November 11 and November 14.

...President of NAS, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, yesterday at press briefing ahead of the eighth Annual Meeting of African Science Academies (AMASA-8) with  the theme, “Climate Change in Africa: Using Science to Reduce Climate Risks,” said the Federal Government had not responded properly to the flood disaster that had ravaged the country in recent times....

A 1911 photo of Lokoja in Nigeria