BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The federal government has encouraged Course-15 participants of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) to develop and implement policies that would assist in addressing climate-related conflicts across Africa.
Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office (EPO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Dr Habiba Lawal stated this in Abuja recently when the management and participants of NISS programme were on a courtesy visit to her office.
She charged the participants to be more scientific in their studies especially on challenges associated with climate change, saying that Africa is deeply committed to global scientific evidence that would bring a lasting solution to the climate crisis.
The permanent secretary challenged the participants on the need to develop a database for natural resources that are susceptible to the impacts of climate change, saying that it would guarantee a lasting peace and security in the continent.
She pleaded with the institute to develop conflict management tools and methods, as well as provide monitoring, prediction and early warning indicators for conflict areas.
Lawal advised them to support education, training, awareness and capacity building on climate-related conflicts in Africa and sustain the platform for exchange of ideas on climate change.
The permanent secretary was worried over the mounting pressure on scarce natural resources due to climate change, coupled with the rising population that had led to insecurity and conflicts, thereby undermining peace in Africa.
She stated that the fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) revealed that the world is warming faster than estimated, a situation she linked to harmful human practices on the environment.
In his presentation, the EPO Director of Drought, Decertification and Coastal Zones Management, Mr. Yusuf Addy stated that the aim of establishing Ecological Project Office was to prudently manage a pool of funds devoted to solving ecological problems across the nation.
He informed that the federal government is committed to addressing ecological challenges across the country by utilising the one percent ecology and derivation funds for the benefit of Nigerians.
On his part, the Director of Special Duties, EPO, Mr. David Haruna commended the efforts of the management of NISS towards the success of the programme.
He praised the tremendous progress of the institute in providing an avenue for the course participants to exchange ideas on security challenges that had undermined effective synergy among security, intelligent and paramilitary organisations.
Haruna enjoined the participants to continously interact with EPO staff, while thanking them for sharing ideas that had benefited the project office immensely.
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