FG tasks research institutes to find practicable solution to combat climate change challenges

THE Federal Government, on Monday, challenged the National Steering Committee on Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) on Climate Change to come out with practicable solutions that would combat the challenges of desert and coastal encroachment in the country.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu stated this in Abuja, while declaring open the inception workshop on TNA for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Nigeria.

He called on research institutes across the country to apply Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to address the challenges of climate change in the country.

Dr Onu said his ministry was working closely with the Ministry of Environment to work out solution and ensure that Nigeria was enabled to solve many problems associated with climate change.

The minister cited herdsmen/farmer clashes as a fallout of climate change resulting from depleting arable land, stressing the need to fight desert encroachment and other problems arising from depleting arable land because, according to him, “there will be nothing to present to the future generation.”

He cited China and Israel as countries that have been able to fight desertification by converting dry land to arable land, adding that they succeeded thereby in creating job opportunities and reduce poverty.

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“Climate change is not something to fear, rather we should confront it and utilize all science, technology and innovation applications to create opportunities for economic and social development.

“The major importance of the workshop is to, therefore, achieve all aims, and with proper assessment of the situation, develop a roadmap that will help in proper confrontation of this climate problem,” he advised.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Bitrus Bako Nabasu said that the workshop would help to build important links among stakeholders that would help to enhance the capacity in acquiring Environmentally Sustainable Technologies.

This, according to him, will also support future investment, remove barriers and contribute to the diffusion of high priority technologies throughout key sectors of the national economy.

In his speech, the representative of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Dr Reuben Bamidele said that organization would be available to provide support to the government of Nigeria during the TNA process and in developing roadmap and strategy for climate change technology management in Nigeria.