Floods: Social Action blames FG for loss of lives, calls for sanction of officials

A Civil Society group, Social Action, has faulted the Nigerian government for the loss of lives and destruction of farmlands and property during the incidents of flood that affected many parts of the country.

In a communique issued at the end of the Nigeria Social Action Conference 2022 with the title ” Addressing Loss and Damage From Floods and Drought in Nigeria ” held on Monday in Abuja, the group said that those government officials whose actions and inactions are directly or indirectly responsible for the death of innocent Nigerians during the flood should be held liable and accountable.

According to them, the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of any government which this government has failed to do.

It noted that the government has failed to be proactive and that is why the problems have continued to reoccur adding that the focus of the government has always been on palliative measures and not on long-term solutions. The communique called on the government at all levels to rise to the challenge of climate change and global warming.

The communique read in part, ” Chapter II, Section 14 (2) (b) states that the Security and Welfare of the People shall be the primary purpose of Government. This is the responsibility of everyone in government.

The government places the above obligation on everyone in Government. To this end, the avoidable loss of lives and property and the destruction of farmland among others is an indictment on those in Government at all levels.

“Climate Change is a reality that any responsible Country; Government and Citizens must be ready to comprehensively and constructively respond and engage. To this end, we must ensure and work towards an All of Government, Whole of Society Approach.

”That as a result of climate change, loss and damage is already occurring, that there is the likelihood of increased loss and damage, that loss and damage is becoming unavoidable and inevitable, that loss and damage are experienced unequally with a disproportionate burden on the poor and vulnerable, and that the current financial and governance frameworks for addressing loss and damage are grossly inadequate at national and global levels.

” Loss and damage is an integral component of necessary Climate Action, in addition to Mitigation and Adaptation.

” That Government at all levels must rise up to the challenge of Climate Change and Global Warming. The government has failed to be proactive and that is why the problems have continued to re-occur. The focus of Government is always on palliative measures and not on long-term solutions ”

The Conference recommended that the right to life and the value of human life is sacrosanct and as such must be the primary consideration of the government when addressing Climate Change and the associated environmental challenges.

The conference also resolved that civil societies must engage in advocacy to ensure that the Government at all levels becomes more proactive in ensuring that we take climate change seriously in Nigeria.

Other recommendations at the conference include; That the financial and governance frameworks for addressing losses and damage should be adequate at national and global levels. All Parties and Stakeholders must come up with practical and sustainable strategies and means of funding and responding to loss and damage.

That the Climate Action Plan in Nigeria must be comprehensive and as such include Loss and damage in addition to mitigation and adaptation.

The culprits who are responsible for loss and damage in Climate Change must be liable and accountable.

In the end, through the agreement from COP 27 on including Loss and Damage in the resolution, we must become creative and think out of the box; e.g Strategic litigation.

Civil Societies must form a broad alliance in Nigeria, Africa and globally to ensure that the needful is done.

Meanwhile speaking earlier at the event the Acting Executive Director of the Social Action, Atsekurubu Mercy Anino said the essence of the event was to proffer ideas and options to guide state actors in the policy-making process and to build a platform of collaboration and collective action between state and non-state actors.

"The theme of this Conference is apt as it speaks to the existential realities of Nigerians after the recent climate disaster (flooding) in 2022. It will not have come at a more auspicious time than now when communities adversely affected by the flooding are trying to adjust to a normal life after the devastating impacts.

"Climate change and its associated crisis have become a challenge to people and governments worldwide. Global warming is increasing the intensity of droughts, flooding, and other extreme weather events. In Nigeria, climate change disasters have ravaged many communities destroying lives, infrastructure, individual properties and livelihoods in many states of the federation.

"This year’s flooding of most parts of the country is a case in point. In the attendant crisis, it is estimated that over 1.3 million Nigerians across the states of the federation were displaced," she added.

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