By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
Stakeholders in Benue State have called on the government to fast-track the implementation of its Climate Change Policy (CCP), warning that delayed action could worsen the state’s food insecurity and environmental challenges.
The call was made during the recent Second Biannual Workshop for the Domestication of the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) in Benue, organised by Elim Christian Vocational Training Center (Elim CVTC), where participants stressed that the policy was long overdue.
Mrs. Philomena Iwodi, Unit Head of Vulnerability and Adaptation at the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, said the final draft of the CCP had already been submitted to Governor Hyacinth Alia for approval.
She explained that while Nigeria has adopted the national framework, Benue must domesticate it to effectively address local realities such as irregular rainfall, deforestation, and poor land use practices.
Iwodi revealed that development partners, particularly Elim CVTC, had funded the policy process in the absence of government financial support.
She cautioned that climate change impacts, especially declining agricultural yields, could trigger severe food shortages in the state if urgent steps are not taken.
Executive Director of Elim CVTC, Emmanuel Egbodo, emphasised that climate change is no longer an abstract concept but a visible reality affecting Benue communities.
He said the Enabling Resilience to Climate Change Related Risks project (ER2CC), supported by the European Union and Christian Blind Mission (CBM), was working to build resilience among local communities and strengthen civil society organisations for greater impact.
At the meeting, Civil society representatives also raised red flags over poor agricultural practices, with Iyoula Frederick of Angel Support Foundation lamenting that many foods consumed in Nigeria are laden with chemical residues due to uninformed pesticide use by farmers.
Meanwhile, participants at the workshop resolved that immediate approval and launch of the policy would provide a concrete framework for reducing the risks of climate change and safeguarding livelihoods across the state.
