The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to embrace technological solutions in curbing numerous challenges that have hindered a healthy environment for sustainable development in the country.
It expressed concern that the lack of adequate data collection and evidence-based interventions has continued to contribute to the growing effects of climate change, as seen in the south with rising cases of coastal community flooding and increased desertification in the northern parts of Nigeria.
In a statement issued to mark the 2024 World Environment Day (WED), the group said Nigeria is one of the countries of the global south bearing the biggest burden and suffering severe impacts of land and water degradation from incessant oil spills due to oil exploration and extraction while the northern part of the country experiences mining impacts and desertification
In commemorating this year’s World Environment Day with the theme: Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience, governments and millions of people are using the occasion to raise awareness and promote environmental conservation in their domains.
Executive Director of MAJI, Onyekachi Okoro said: “The Federal government of Nigeria has to make specific efforts to firstly document environmental data in a sustainable and effective manner. This data will be strategic in the analysis which will provide the [platform for evidence-based intervention and data-oriented engagements at all levels of governance.”
MAJI noted that over the years, Governments effort and environmental policies have thus far been deficient and have failed to materialise into effective and sustainable solutions which will contribute to addressing the growing impacts of climate change.
“These effects have been seen in increased conflicts between farmers and herders in the Northern parts of Nigeria, and flooding in the coastal regions of Nigeria. This has affected rural livelihood, traditional cultures and way of life.
Today, governments at all levels, the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) must collaborate to adopt and use open-sourced technological based solutions in documenting the levels of impact and thus, tackling the impacts of Climate Change and its ecological effects on the Nigerian Populace.
“MAJI believes that technological based approaches for climate change resilience will greatly contribute to tangible and real life solutions in solving critical challenges that are currently plunging the environmental crisis in Nigeria,” the statement reads.
As a youth-oriented, environmental and governance organization, the group uses technology, open-source media and interactive media platforms to promote and empower local and urban-poor communities and disenfranchised groups in Nigeria.
