DENIAL OR OMISSION?

In a few weeks, there will be a critical election in Nigeria, arguably the most important in the history of the country.

With a tense political climate, I haven’t stopped to wonder what clever ideas any candidate (governorship, presidential, others) has in store for climate change. Prediction shows that this year, the earliest rain will likely occur on or around the second day of March; friends and folks, the rainy season officially starts a couple of days after the presidential election.

Personally, I have followed the campaigns and I must say that as an environmentalist, unlike the economy, security, education, fooling around, calumny and abuses, Climate Change has not been given the appropriate attentiveness it deserves.

Have we quickly forgotten the unusual rainfalls in 2022? The perennial release of water from the Lagdo Dam in neighboring Cameroon? What is the status of the Dasin Hausa Dam project in Adamawa State, the twin dam that is meant to contain the overflows and was never built?

On reflection, many Nigerians have a ‘short memory’ affliction, perhaps when the issues do not directly affect them. But are we also so apathetic to have forgotten the 612 deaths that the floods caused in 2022? The 1.4 million displaced persons that were produced, the over 200,000 homes completely or partially destroyed and 110.000 hectares of farmland destroyed? Have we become swamped by the new Naira notes and the desire to simply conquer in an election?

We cannot afford to underestimate or judge wrongly the scale of actions required to fight and mitigate climate change in Nigeria. For most people that were unaware, unenlightened and apathetic towards the actuality of climate change, the 2022 flood disaster was the evidence they may need. As an environmental activist/enthusiast, I hate to sound like a doomist, but evidence has shown that there are more devastating floods in our future. Whether another flood comes in 2023, or 24 or 25 or thereafter, we must adequately prepare. . . Securing lives must be taken sternly.

In 2022, despite the early warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, prompt and proactive actions were never taken. It is a new year and NiMet has put out its climate predictions. Will our leaders ‘wing it’ with climate change just like security, education, electricity, portable water, fuel queues and other issues in Nigeria?

Are both current leadership and campaigning candidates, in denial or have they simply omitted climate change? If they and their cached wealth don’t get washed away yet, will they simply blame the international world for causing climate change and not giving Africa enough funding? Will they just blame past administration(s) and move on?

As citizens, we have a crucial role in tackling climate and environmental ‘palava’ as well; first by changing our behavior, then by asking / informing leaders and policymakers. But are we ready to?

— The Carpenter’s Daughter

For Climate Thursday