CRSG seeks collaboration with NCCC to mitigate climate change patterns

 By Sylvia Okoi

The Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Environment has called for collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change to enable her mitigate climate change patterns in the State.

The call for this collaboration was made when the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi paid a courtesy call on the DG NCCC in his office at Abuja.

Emphasizing the importance of establishing an harmonious relationship between both entities, Commissioner Osogi stated that the working visit was propelled by the need to interface and understudy the dynamics of NCCC as well as seek support for the State in the face of the rising climate change cycle.

Stating the importance of the Environment to  inhabitants, the Environment Commissioner opined that the environment provides inhabitants with food, water, air and many other numerous services that are being relied upon for survival.

On the role of environment in climate change, Commissioner Osogi said the Environment works to maintain balance in Climate Change hence the need for National Council on Climate Change to provide the enabling platform and spearhead the drive for Environmental activities that would mitigate and prevent shifting climate change patterns for the well-being of Cross Riverians.

Calling for swift intervention from the body, Commissioner Osogi expressed regret at the challenges facing the Environmental sector in the State. He pointed out that waste disposal, erosion and flood issues as well as behavioural attitude of residents towards Environment matters are issues being tackled by his Ministry.

Continuing, the environment boss, narrated that he had taken intervention measures such as introduction of monthly sanitation for the general public and weekly sanitation for all markets in Calabar Metroplolis as means of restoring the greenery and clean nature of Cross River State. He disclosed that Cross River State was recently rated as the third most cleanest State, attributing the record to the tireless efforts of the activities of his Ministry. 

Responding, the Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Alhaji. Dr. Salisu Dahiru appreciated the commissioner for his visit and applauded him for his professionalism dispositions.

Recalling that Cross River State was the first city to be branded as a garden city, the NCCC  DG decried the recent degradation of the Environmental standards of the State  and assured his Council's collaboration to boost the Environmental activities especially in the implementation of Climate Change action plan.

The elated  DG who traced his professional antecedent to Cross River State disclosed his enormous contributions to Cross River State which earned him the title of Ntufam. He promised to intensify the existing relationship with the state by bringing the benefits accrued with the collaboration with key focus geared towards uplifting and improving the livelihood of  CrossRiverians.

The visit featured presentation of award of excellence to the DG and a group photograph.