Climate change, deforestation major social problems — Reps

House of Representatives committee on ecological funds have paid an oversight visit and inspection to victims of flood in Jigawa state, Saying climate change, deforestation, land degradation are major social problems affecting areas exposed to flooding every year in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening by the media aid to the committee chairman Jamilu Iliyasu Birnin Magaji said as part of the committee’s oversight function,they paid a visit to Jigawa.

The committee, which is under the Chairmanship of Hon. Dr Aminu Sani Jaji, a member representing the Kaura Namoda-Birnin Magaji federal constituency in Zamfara state, visited Jigawa state to see things for themselves and see what the federal government can do to ameliorate suffering of flood disaster.

The statement reads in parts: “The oversight visit was at the instance of the Jigawa state Governor Malam Ummaru Namadi in Dutse and other strategic places within the state”.

“Hon. Aminu Jaji, the committee chairman, described the tragedy that befalls the people of Jigawa as shockingly identified desertification, land degradation, climate change crisis as well as deforestation as the major social problems affecting some areas exposed to flooding in Nigeria every year.”.

“The Chairman insisted that their oversight visits to states besides Jigawa are an extended one and members of his committee would go round all the states affected by flooding and assess the situation for possible remedy.”

During the visit, he informed the Jigawa state Governor that their committee would assist the state in having sustainable land management practices and climate change control measures in the state.

“The committee identified Jigawa state as one of the frontline states affected by flooding, gully erosion, desertification, and land degradation. Hence the need for the committee to do all it can to offer a solution to the problems confronting the people of the state is enormous.”

Responding to the visiting House committee, Governor Malam Umar Namadi in a response thanked the chairman of the committee and members for choosing Jigawa state as the first point of call, especially considering the impacts brought by frequent flood disasters almost on a yearly basis.

The Governor informed the committee that this year alone twenty-three out of twenty-seven local government areas of jigawa state were badly affected by the flood, adding that about (40,000) households were directly affected.

“In addition,7000 houses were destroyed or submerged by the heavy rainfall, noting that about (6,500) farmlands were destroyed in the mentioned local government councils”.

The Governor further stated that close to 8000 people mostly households were displaced and taking refuge at several undesignated Internally Displaced Camps within the state.

‘Providing the internal measures put in place by the Jigawa State Government to guard against frequent occurrence of the flood disaster, Governor Namadi stated that, his administration has championed the planting of 5.5 million trees within the state”.

He called on the committee to come to the aid of Jigawa people, especially in supporting them with the measures that would help secure their environment against the factors stated above.