• Says farming activities in distress
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, has said the state had voted an initial capitalisation of N5 billion to tackle climate change-related crisis.
He made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja at the Katsina State Climate Action and Green Investment Summit.
He said the state would, henceforth, allocate 30 percent of its annual budget to fix climate-resilient infrastructure and establish a green investment fund to de-risk projects and hasten implementation.
According to him, the state allotted ₦1.4 billion to de-silt existing drainages and to ensure that the past was not neglected in its plans.
The governor said the initiatives were expedient because of how climate change had altered the farming activities of residents.
He said: “But we did not stop there. To combat water scarcity and promote irrigation, we’ve constructed 120 solar-powered boreholes across the state, worth ₦2.4 billion, with an additional 60 under construction.
“This means more water for farmers, more food on our tables, and more income for families.
“Oftentimes, I travel through our rural communities, I see firsthand how climate change has altered the farming activities of our people. Where once there were thriving farms and succulent agricultural produce, now there are encroaching sands. Where once there were reliable rains, now there is uncertainty.
“Secondly, we will allocate 30 percent of our annual budget to climate-resilient infrastructure and establish a Green Investment Fund to de-risk projects and accelerate implementation, with an initial capitalisation of N5 billion and mechanisms to leverage additional private capital.”
However, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said the UN family in Nigeria “stands firmly with you. We are working closely with the government through the National Climate Change Council (NCCC) to ensure that Nigeria completes an ambitious NDC 3.0 before September this year, as we look forward to CoP 30 in Brazil.
“We can take it further by developing plans at sub-national level to address climate change, starting with this initiative by Katsina State.
“We must act now. Global investment in clean energy is at record levels. Countries with clear climate strategies are attracting capital, technology and innovation. Katsina State can lead the way in Nigeria.
“With bold action, Nigeria can lead Africa into a cleaner, safer and more prosperous future, protecting mangroves in the South, strengthening agriculture in the North and creating jobs for the next generation in every community.”