Stakeholders in Katsina state are attributing recent climate changes within the state to subsidy removal, saying it has had an adverse effect on climate, food security, and economic development.
Excessive Temperature Increase
Katsina and other Northwestern states have experienced an excessive increase in temperature in the last two months, reaching up to 44 degrees Celsius.
Stakeholders’ Summit on Climate Change
This led to a one-day summit in Katsina for stakeholders to discuss the cause of action. During the summit, stakeholders attributed the climate change to the felling of trees for charcoal due to the inability of residents to afford gas or kerosene for cooking.
Why it Matters
The issue of fuel subsidy removal has been under consideration for a while, particularly concerning its adverse effects on the people, which were not effectively considered before the decision was made. Nigerians are struggling with the aftermath of the subsidy removal, which has led to serious economic hardship, including inflation.
Another crucial consideration is how subsidy removal affects the ecosystem and environment. Climate change is known to have adverse effects worldwide, as seen in the El Niño crisis. The negative consequences of a bad climate are numerous, and steps should be taken to curb it early on to prevent even worse outcomes.
Stakeholders’ Opinions
The convener of the summit, Dr. Mustapha Shehu, noted, “Energy, especially for household cooking and other everyday activities, is very important and necessary for all human beings. However, some of the stringent policies of the Federal Government, like the removal of subsidies on fuel, gas, and other related products, are creating a lot of havoc.”
He emphasized the need for the government to understand that while revenue generation is important, it should also consider the implications of cutting down trees, which has negative consequences for everyone.
The Bottom Line
As climate change intensifies, the summit calls for government action to curb the impending disaster in the north and address the adverse effects of climate change. However, the government’s response will likely depend on its focus in governance. Recent government attention has been on revenue generation to boost the economy.
This summit urges the government not to neglect other aspects of Nigeria in pursuit of increased revenue for the country.
