Abuja: International Alert, in collaboration with the Benue State Government, has organized a training program aimed at enhancing lawmakers’ understanding of climate change governance in the state. Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue, represented by Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, emphasized the urgent need for legislative support to fortify climate governance and protect Benue’s future. This initiative was part of a One-Day Training and Sensitisation on Climate Change for Members of the Benue House of Assembly.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the training themed ‘Strengthening Legislative Leadership for Developing Climate-Resilience and Carbon Budgeting in Benue State,’ was organized by International Alert and the Benue State Council on Climate Change (BSCCC), with support from Irish Aid. Governor Alia highlighted the existential threats posed by climate change to Benue’s agriculture, environment, security, and economy. As Nigeria’s Food Basket, Benue is experiencing increasing environmental shocks that threaten its populace and economic stability.
Key challenges identified by Governor Alia include recurring floods in riverine local government areas, erratic rainfall affecting crop yields, rising temperatures impacting health and water security, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss. He also noted that climate change exacerbates Benue’s long-standing security issues, particularly farmer-herder conflicts, attributing these clashes to herders moving southward due to droughts in the north.
Governor Alia called for strong legislative backing to combat climate change, urging lawmakers to update the Benue State Climate Change Law and collaborate with the Climate Change Council to develop a carbon budgeting framework. The state executive has already initiated major climate actions, including establishing the Benue State Council on Climate Change and drafting a Climate Change Policy and Action Plan.
Dr. Kingsley Udo, Country Director of International Alert Nigeria, commended Benue State for establishing the Climate Change Council, describing it as ‘a visionary, genius structure.’ He linked climate change directly to food insecurity and rising conflict across Nigeria, noting that Benue’s declining agricultural productivity is worsening hunger and could trigger further conflict.
Dr. Aondofa Mailumo, Director-General of the Benue State Council on Climate Change, emphasized the importance of strong state laws, carbon budgeting structures, and climate reporting obligations to access global funds like the Green Climate Fund. The Speaker of the Benue House of Assembly, Alfred Emberga, pledged the Assembly’s commitment to passing robust climate laws in collaboration with the Climate Change Council, highlighting the need to address issues like indiscriminate tree felling.
Deputy Speaker Lami Ogenyi also highlighted the gendered impacts of climate change, noting that women, particularly widows and single mothers, are disproportionately affected by floods, displacement, and declining farm productivity.