..ensure food Security in Nigeria — Lawmaker

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

A member of the House of Representatives representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Rep. Terseer Ugbor, has called for massive reforestation and the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices to tackle climate change and food insecurity in Nigeria.

Speaking as a panelist at the Nigerian Climate Change Forum held in Abuja, Ugbor urged governments at all levels to adopt nature-based solutions by prioritizing afforestation and smart agricultural initiatives.

He expressed concern over the depletion of forests in his constituency, which was once renowned for its rich forestry and Rosewood (commonly known as ‘Madrid’). The deforestation has led to significant revenue losses and negatively impacted the local economy.

“As long as we don’t prioritize tree planting and reforestation, we will continue to lose habitat and biodiversity. We’ll also keep suffering the effects of climate change. This is why we’re facing massive desertification, droughts, and irregular rainfall in Nigeria,” Ugbor warned.

He emphasized the need for legislative interventions, stating: “As a Parliament, our priority is to advance policies and legislation that address these challenges.”

The lawmaker highlighted efforts to amend the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act to include social components, transforming it into an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. This, he explained, would ensure that the effects of activities are evaluated not only on the environment but also on the welfare and livelihoods of communities.

The forum attracted key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, including environment commissioners, climate change advisers, development partners, banks, oil and gas companies, and other critical players in the environmental sector.