APRIL 19, 2007 

LAGOS UNDER WATER

Discussion forum on climate change at the Goethe-Institut Lagos

Goethe director Arne Schneider warmly welcomed participants to the program being co-organized by both the HBF and Goethe-Institut. HBF Country Director and moderator of the event, Dr. Stefan Cramer welcomed participants to the event and gave a brief introduction of the Foundation as a political foundation associated to the Green Party in Germany, which focuses on civic and political education. 

He stressed that there are two mega-trends discernable in the 21st century: energy security and climate change. They both will define the ways how nation relate to each other, how we live, and what future we give to this planet. While energy security has even made inroads into the election platforms in current campaigns for political offices in Nigeria, climate change is hardly ever been discussed in Nigerian polity. For instance: the Nigerian Government has projected 10.000 Megawatt by the end 2007, yet the nation’s electricity supply is more epileptic than ever. Energy security also describes how conflict on natural resources like oil and  gas are created.. But climate change will eventually affect all Nigerians: in the South by increased flooding, from the rising sea level and from enhanced rainfall, while the North will become drier and therefore with fewer options for agriculture. The East is already affected by erosion. He therefore looked up to seeing committed Nigerian scientists and civil society organizations who are really interested in working on the environmental issues.

The award-winning documentary film entitled “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore was shown to the participants to see the reality of the effects of climate change and global warming around the world. The documentary revealed the increasing effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other forms of air pollution on the atmosphere, thereby causing a big threat to the world. Global warming has caused major floods and droughts in diverse countries like Switzerland, India, China, US etc., In effect the documentary shows that in about 10 to 15 years to come, millions of people around the world could be displaced. In addition, the world’s population explosion would increase the pressure on agriculture, water and infrastructural facilities, which may hinder growth and development in all nations. Al Gore concluded by saying we have to do the right thing: we need to care for the environment and the economy so as to create wealth and job opportunities for the younger generation. There is the need to improve the efficiency of energy used and to enhance renewable sources, but most importantly is “political will” which will help to reduce global warming in the world.

Three paper presentations were delivered by Dr. Stefan Cramer (HBF), Mr. Ako Amadi (CIDA) and Prof. Benjamin Akpati (previously NIOMR). They dealt extensively on the major challenges of climate change in Nigeria: “Lagos under water” “Climate Change and Water Scarcity” and “Coastal Erosion in Nigeria”, respectively.

In a concluding interactive session, the approx. 50 participants discussed the high level of illiteracy and ignorance among the Nigerian population, as a hindrance to care for the environment, even in the political class and the media, the lack of political will to drive a sustainable development policy, lukewarm and lackadaisical attitude of individual and estate developers to properly plan for the environment and ocean and land interactions which lead to flooding and sea level rise. One pertinent question that needs to be addressed is “What are the immediate solutions to the above problems?” After a deliberation on the issues, these are some of the recommendations highlighted by participants.

▀       An environmental media strategy -

▀       A legislative strategy: Nigeria still needs to develop an environmental policy plan 

▀       An advocacy strategy: All relevant stakeholders should be identified, to be able to lobby government on the needs to preserve and maintain the environment.

▀       Build synergies among the relevant stakeholders, the capacities of civil society need to be strengthened so as to be able to share the latest information.

▀       Institutional and human capacity development: More institutions like Oceanography and other environmental research institutes need to be established, developed and properly funded so that Nigerian can be abreast of the latest development in the area.

▀       Infrastructural development: Government needs to develop and follow the master plans of some of the coastal states in Nigeria. There should be proper quality control in building infrastructures like road, drainage and bridges, building etc.

▀       Awareness creation on environmental development: Government needs to massively educate and start enlightenment campaigns on environmental issues. It should be introduced at the elementary and secondary schools

▀       Promote renewable energy sources´: to Al Gore, this is a question of political. Introduction of new forms of energy needs to be supported by the politicians so as to source for other alternatives like wind, solar and biogas.

▀       Improve Nigeria’s democratic system: there should be decentralization of power, i.e. on the land use, to the local and community people.

In conclusion, Dr. Stefan Cramer thanked speakers and participants for contributing to the debate on Lagos Climate Change. The workshop had in attendance 41 participants; 19 female and 22 male. The workshop has increased people’s awareness on the consequences of global warming in Nigeria. Hence, participants are beginning to develop interest in the area especially the media and civil society.