Minister Momoh Emphasizes Strategic Partnerships for Regional Development
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing regional development across the country. Momoh made this assertion on Monday while hosting a consortium of key stakeholders addressing the impact of climate change in West Africa and Nigeria. The delegation, led by the ‘Academic Associates PeaceWorks’ (AAPW), visited the minister in Abuja to present a policy brief on climate-related challenges.
In a statement by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Abdulrashid Safana said that during the meeting, Momoh acknowledged the pressing effects of climate change on coastal communities in the Niger Delta, highlighting its social, economic, and environmental repercussions. He noted that these impacts have contributed to frequent communal conflicts and heightened youth criminality in the region.
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The minister cited recent collaborative efforts between his ministry and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to mitigate flooding through the construction of high embankments and the opening of water channels. These initiatives, he explained, were aimed at improving inter-communal connectivity and boosting economic activities.
Momoh encouraged the visiting organization to collaborate with relevant development commissions to address the environmental and climate-related challenges outlined in their brief. He clarified that while his ministry provides oversight, the financial resources required for tackling these issues reside within the development commissions.
Additionally, he advised AAPW to explore opportunities within the carbon market, climate finance, and the green economy, suggesting ventures such as shrimp farming as potential means to engage local communities and curb youth restiveness.
Speaking on behalf of the consortium, Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi (Rtd) outlined the organization’s findings from a three-year research project titled Coping with Climate Change as a Cause of Conflict in Coastal Communities of West Africa (C7-WA). The initiative, funded by the European Union (EU), is a joint effort by four partners: the Italian Shipping Academy Foundation (FAIMM), AAPW, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), and the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP).
Abdullahi emphasized that climate change poses an existential threat, citing its role in escalating crises worldwide, particularly in the
By PRNigeria
