17th March, 2024
By Abigael Joshua
Some environmental experts in Abuja on Sunday urged Nigerians to restore forest habitats in their homes, to mitigate the current heat wave from climate change.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria due to the recent heat wave in the country.
Dr Michael David, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), said heat wave was the cause of the drying of streams and rivers.
He urged Nigerians to plant more trees and restore forest habitats in homes to mitigate climate change.
“To address the impact of heat wave and the drying of rivers and streams requires a more comprehensive strategy on climate adaptation process, water management and generally ecosystem restoration.”
The executive director added that the factors being experienced in the country were due to climate change characterised by the intensity and duration of the heat.
David said there was an urgent need to safeguard water resources for future generations.
Mr Ene Owoh, the National Coordinator of Clean-up Nigeria (CUN), said it was important to note that water and climate change were interrelated.
“Climate change affects water supply in a number of ways from the present unpredictable rainfalls to the depreciating water levels in streams.
“The rising sea levels, the cases of flood and drought, all of these boil down to climate change.
“The truth be told, climate change has altered the availability of water, thus making it less plentiful in the world.
“Climate change has caused water shortage, drought and the decrease of agricultural produce.
“Let us bear in mind that any increase in temperature level will have consequences on water level as well as human beings,” Owoh said.