Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, has disclosed that plans are underway to mobilise at least ₦20 billion over the next four years to confront flooding, drought, desertification, migration and other climate issues across the North West zone.
He made the disclosure at the North-West Climate Summit, which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Yakasai said the gathering was aimed at creating the enabling environment for states and local governments to connect with development partners, financial institutions and investors.
The initiative, he said, is being implemented in partnership with the Northern Governors’ Forum, the North-West Governors’ Forum and the North-West Development Commission.
He explained that there would be a Climate Academy expected to train 10,000 young people across the North-West on climate resilience, climate action and related areas.
Also, the Climate Fund will channel resources towards interventions on flooding, drought, renewable energy and other climate-related challenges.
“That fund will be channelled through the Office of the SSA on Community Engagement to tackle those issues,” Yakasai said.
“We are looking at the region of N20 billion in the next four years. All these are aimed at easing the problems of climate, because this is what is bedevilling the whole world.”
He further explained that the initiative began last year and is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s position ahead of the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Summit.
“We want to take up what we have gotten here, the discussions we have had here, because we have had a lot of interactive sessions,” Yakasai said.
“We take it up and see where we can match our strength with what we can see at the international climate change summit that is coming up.”
Yakasai identified flooding, migration, drought, dry-season pressures and the need for renewable energy as major challenges facing the North-West.
“Anything that has to do with climate challenge, we focus on it and see how we can help in alleviating those challenges,” he said.
The summit is positioned as an investment-focused platform for climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy, water security and youth-led green enterprises across Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
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