Climate change: 32m people in N/Delta may be displaced —Minister
The Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, on Wednesday, warned that about 32 million Nigerians living on the coastlines in the Niger Delta might be displaced due to rise in the sea level.
She stated that with an accelerated sea level rise of 0.5 metres, 35 per cent of the Niger Delta land mass would be lost, adding that with accelerated sea level rise of 1.0 metres, 75 per cent of the Niger Delta would be gone under water.
Mrs Mallam said these in Abuja at the 2014 World Environment Day on the theme: ‘Raise your voice not the sea level.’
She said that cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri were sensitive to sea level rise and storm surge.
She said: “Nigeria is endowed with low-laying coastline of about 853 km long. This coastline is very important to the economy of the country. It accounts for most of the country’s industrial establishments and energy infrastructure while major settlements such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri were located on the coast and therefore sensitive to sea level rise and storm surges.
“Studies have projected that with an accelerated sea level rise of 0.5 meters, 35 per cent of the Niger Delta land mass will be lost, and with accelerated sea level rise of 1.0 meters, 75 per cent of the Niger Delta will be gone under water.
“Given this scenario, it implies that nearly 32 million people (22.6 per cent of the national population) who live along the coastal zone are at the risk of becoming environmental refugees. Such forced movement could result in social frictions arising from demands of land resources for economic activities by the refugees.
“Moreover, many fishing grounds will be adversely affected, thus threatening major livelihood of the rural dwellers along the Nigerian coast. This is because the mangrove swamps provide breeding grounds and refuge for many fish species and the intrusion of saline water due to sea level rise will have an undesirable consequence on fresh water resources of the affected areas.”
Mallam further explained that the effect of climate change could cause food insecurity, and diseases among the vulnerable in the country.
“In Nigeria, the impacts of climate change are manifested by erosion and landslides in the east, drought, and desertification in the north, raising sea levels in the coastal areas and flooding across the nation.
“It is clear that the only choice for humanity is to take practical actions through reducing emissions, awareness creation, preparing for extreme events and adapting to the impacts of climate change. We need to plan for the changes that are expected to occur. We need to adjust our ecological, social, and economic systems and change the way we do things.
Meanwhile, Environmental experts have raised the alarm on the vulnerability of the Niger Delta region to climate change, warning that global warming may cause the displacement of communities and disruption/destruction of socio-economic activities in the region.
Three climate experts made the submission in Port Harcourt, on Monday, while speaking at a programme organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to mark the 2014 edition of the World Environment Day, with theme “Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level.”
They also warned about flooding of low-lying areas and coastal settlements which are prone to erosion and which posed serious problem for the economic activities in the region, especially in the natural sector such as farming and fisheries.
Some forces were also identified which may lead to raising the sea level, including, dumping of refuse in the waterfronts and beaches, illegal refineries and bunkering, gas flaring and bush burning, pollution and environmental degradation as well as poverty, unemployment and inequality.
The Dean, Faculty of Biological Science, Professor Benjamin Ndukwu, spoke on “Niger Delta and Rising Level: Fact, Fears, Future”, while Dr Bolaji Bernard, Technical Coordinator, Institute of Marine Research and Oceanography, talked on “Ocean Acidification, Consequences on Marine Biodiversity.”
Dr Justin Akankali, chairman, Environmental Managers Association, Rivers State chapter, spoke on “Impact of Climate on Island and Coastal Communities of Niger Delta”, saying climate change was real, adding that the theme of thisbyear’s celebration was relevant to the continued sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
He said climate change was a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years, adding that it may occur overtime, either due to natural variability or as a result of intense human activities.
Declaring that the region was more vulnerable to climate change and global warming, he admonished that there should be a concerted effort among all stakeholders to prevent and stave off the impacts of climate change in the region in particular and globally.
Akankali said the probability of climate change was higher in the Niger Delta where he said increasing ignorance and lack of confidence in organs of government had further deepened the mistrust of the citizens.
SOURCE; TRIBUNE
http://tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/7229-climate-change-32m-people-in-n-delta-may-be-displaced-minister
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