Climate Watch: FG to hold bilateral talks with Cameroon on Lagdo dam

Despite directly impacting our communities, health and livelihood, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken towards limiting its impact.

Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories: 

• The federal government says the current flood situation in the country has claimed 603 lives, affected 2,504,095 persons, displaced 1,302,589; and injured  2,407. Sadiya Farouq, the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, said 121,318 houses have been partially damaged and 82,053 others completely destroyed, as well as 332,327 hectares of farmlands damaged. She said Nigeria is set to “initiate a bilateral discussion with authorities in Cameroon next month (November 2022) on the periodic opening of the Lagdo Dam”.

• Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, has lamented that floods have displaced several communities across his state. He called on the federal government to assist the state with resources to alleviate the plight of victims. Subsequently, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday asked agencies responsible for handling the emergency response to ensure support reaches Bayelsa communities affected by flooding. Read more here and here.

• The international community has commiserated with Nigeria over the rampant floods across the country. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping condoled with Nigeria following the death of over 40 persons in a boat accident in Anambra. Also, Gillan Keegan, minister for Africa at UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said her thoughts are with Nigeria. She added that the UK will continue to support Nigeria to provide critical assistance to those affected by flooding and to also make progress towards longer-term climate adaptation and resilience. Find out more here.

• At COP27 set to hold in November, Nigeria has proposed to prioritise finance and partnerships to help in the country’s emissions reduction. Mohammed Abdullahi, minister of environment, who made this known at a media briefing last week, said the federal government will “walk the talk at COP27”. He also said the country’s priorities at the conference will enable it to drive adaptation and climate change mitigation. Read here. 

• As states continue to feel the pain of the flooding disaster, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said the south-east and north-central should prepare to experience more flooding in the days and weeks ahead. Mansur Matazu, director-general of NiMet, said while states across the country have been affected by the above-normal rainfall, the opening of dams and other water-holding facilities in the country could greatly affect the north-central and the south-east. Read further here.

• Also, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has blamed residents of Niger and Kwara for the destruction caused by the flood. NEMA said residents of the states refused to adhere to the early warning given to them. Zainab Saidu, head NEMA Minna operations office, said many communities affected along the tributaries of River Niger “turned deaf ears” to flood warnings contained in the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO). Find out more here.