By Mike Ebonugwo

Climate change is said to have inevitably become the defining issue in Akwa Ibom State on account of the state seriously facing various forms of environmental degradation attributable to its geographical location and other natural and human induced factors.

Gov Emmanuel Udom of Akwa-Ibom State

According to the state Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Iniobong Ene Essien, worse hit by the development, which has impacted negatively on various sectors of the state’s economy, are some coastal and riverine communities in the state many of which have already been forced to relocate due to excessive sea level rise and attendant flooding.

Speaking at the World Media Chat on the First Akwa Ibom State Climate Change and Clean Energy Mega Summit/Expo 2016 at the weekend, the Commissioner who was represented by Mr. Samuel Bassey of the Governor’s Office in Lagos, however, assured that the state government through the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources has since risen to the occasion in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

Climate change

In his words: ‘’In responding to the climate change challenge, the state has proactively put in place measures aimed at tackling the impact of climate change. To coordinate the activities, the state government has set up a multi-State Technical Committee on Climate Change, STCC, to drive the process of climate change activities in the state’’.

He did not stop there. ‘’So far, the struggle to protect, preserve and prepare our environment for the expected industrial revolution has been fairly won, This has been possible through the sucessful implementation of various environment-friendly policies. For instance, with the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation and proper waste management system, the state have recorded marked improvement in keeping our environment clean.

‘’In our effort and serious attempt at turning waste to wealth, the administration of Mr Udom Emmanuel has geared up its energy into recycling of waste as an alternative means of deducing competitive market products from the huge waste generated in the state.

A successful effort towards achieving this desired goal will provide employment and generate income for its citizens,’’ he submitted.

On the summit with the theme, ‘’Charting A Roadmap for Sustainanble Environmen and Creation of Green Jobs’’ and which is scheduled to hold from July 26 to 28, 2016 in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital, Essien informed that it will anchor an all stakeholders brainstorming and solution-seeking sessions that would benefit the human and natural environment in Nigeria and beyond. He addd that it would attract a gathering of experts, intellectuals and major stakeholders in the environment/climate change, in strategic and high level sessions to address salient issues, generate new ideas and approaches as well as chart a roadmap to combat the scourge of climate change in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta area.

The media chat also had in attendance Dr Victor Fodoke, Chairman/CEO, Always Green Power and Systems and Prof. Samuel Wara, Director, Centre for Reasarch, Innovation and Discovery, Covenant University who in their separate speeches underlined the imperative of the summit in the light of the increasing challenges posed by climate change.