Obiano Takes Anambra Erosion Crisis To The World

Speaking at the Anambra State event on the sideline of the just concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference tagged COP25 in Madrid Spain. The governor in partnership with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) unveiled the Climate Change Resilience Campaign titled Save Our Landscape (SOL).

Anambra State was represented at the conference by Michael Ivenso, State Project Coordinator for NEWMAP and Jide Ikeako, Managing Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), lamented that Anambra State which boast of almost 100% arable land was fast losing her lands and forests, with colossal loss of lives, properties and critical infrastructure due to gully erosion and flood, occasioned by Climate Change.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Salisu Dahiru, National Project Coordinator for NEWMAP, “Climate change impacts across Nigeria are evidenced in several dimensions, depending on the region. Impacts of intense rainfall leading to flooding and erosion are felt in over 12 of the 36 sates of the nation: but is most severe in Anambra state.

Anambra State side event is aimed at illuminating the impact of climate change on agriculture and forest preservation in the state. At the event, presenters shared their lives experiences of the socioeconomic impact of flooding and erosion in the state.

“They also shared continued remediation efforts of NEWMAP with focus on its mitigation and adaptation activities. NEWMAP is funded by the World Bank with Global Economic Facility (GEF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).

The unveiled Climate Change Resilience Campaign titled Save Our Landscape (SOL) is an innovative land reclamation programme replete with components of afforestation climate smart agriculture, awareness, sensitisation and capacity enhancement.

“SOL” is an indicative of the state readiness to tackle climate change impacts through innovations, partnerships and collaborations, and funding and technology supports from global climate change community.