BY CHUKWUMA CHIBUEZE, Owerri
Conscious of climate change as both an Environmental and Development Challenges, the Abia State Government has established a dedicated Climate Change Department within her ministry of Environment, just as climate vulnerability assessments had been conducted across all the 17 council areas of the state to establish scientific baseline data for climate planning.
This is even as Climate Community Assets Assessments had equally been undertaken across all the Local Government Areas in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to Abia State governor – Dr. Ebere Uzoukwa disclosed this in a lecture entitled “Climate-Smart Urbanization and Environmental Governance: The Abia Development model for Building Resilient and Sustainable Cities In Africa” which he delivered at the “2026 World Environmental Day Celebration” held at the Imo State University, Owerri and which had the theme “Urbanization and Climate Change”. Building Resilient Cities for a Sustainable Future”.
The Senior Special Assistant said that in addition, Abia State had developed a one hundred and seven page climate Change Investors “Readiness Document designed to position the State competitively for climate financing opportunities and green investment partnerships.
The state he said had strengthened institutional climate governance by establishing climate desk officers across ministries Departments, Agencies and Local Government Areas. "Abia also contributed greenhouse gas data to Nigeria’s Biennial transparency Reporting framework while participating actively in national climate planning mechanisms”.
According to Dr. Uzoukwa, the state had expanded Global Climate Engagement through participation in international climate platforms, including conference of parties climate conferences and implementation meetings under the United Nations Climate Governance Architecture.
On flood control, Dr. Uzoukwa disclosed that drainage systems and climate resilience had been established in 2023 and the Flood and Erosion Control Department of the State Ministry Of Environment implemented multiple Climate Adaptation Projects across communities in the state through direct labour mechanisms designed to accelerate intervention delivery.
He enumerated governments efforts to tackle havocs wrecked by flooding, erosion, storm water accumulation in various parts of the state through strategic drainage engineering and flood channel infrastructure as well as discharge engineering governance.
Dwelling extensively on the economic cost of climate change in Africa, the African Urbanization paradox and the rise of green economics in the twenty first (21st) century, the environmental governance and the missing link in African development – Uzoukwa - a media expert said that Climate Resilience becomes sustainable when governance system deliberately integrate science, policy, institutions and long term planning disclosing that Abia’s evolving model demonstrates that Environmental Governance is not separate from development.
He advised governments of African countries to adopt comprehensive Urban Master Plans that integrate Housing Systems, Transportation Infrastructure, Drainage Systems, Environmental Protection Mechanisms, Energy Systems and Economic Development Planning.
Aside this, he said that African cities should increasingly invest in Electric Transportation Systems, Rail Infrastructure, Non-Motorized Mobility Systems And Climate – friendly transit networks, stressing that Environmental governance institutions require stronger legal frameworks, adequate funding, technology tools and Enforcement Capacity.
Dr. Uzoukwa argued that Climate – Smart Urbanization requires governments to think beyond immediate political circles as future generations would inherit the consequences of today’s development decisions.
In his words “Cities must therefore be designed not merely for present populations. They must also be designed for generations yet unborn”.
Resilient Cities, he said possess the capacity to adapt to climate shocks, sustain economic growth, protect public health, strengthen environmental systems, encourage innovation and support inclusive development.
As modern climate governance increasingly demands cleaner energy systems capable of reducing omissions while expanding energy access, the Abia state government according to him, had increasingly integrated renewable energy deployment into public infrastructure development.
Dr. Uzoukwa who equally talked about “Urban flooding as a security challenge, environmental sanitation and public health, listed the Environmental benefits of Electric Transportation to include: reduction in carbon omissions and noise pollution improved air quality and green economy development.
While urging governments to prioritize forest conservation, wetland protection, Eco system, Restoration and Biodiversity Preservation, Dr. Uzoukwa contended that natural systems remain among humanity’s most critical climate defence mechanisms.
He therefore advised that Environmental Education should increasingly become integrated into Schools, Universities, Media Campaigns and Community Programmes.
Additionally, Dr. Uzoukwa counselled that African cities must increasingly strengthen investment in solar energy systems, renewable mini-guides, Clean Energy Infrastructure as well as Energy efficient buildings while African Governments should increasingly strengthen institutional preparedness for Climate Financing Opportunities.
The Vice Chancellor of the University – Professor Uchefula . Chukwumaeze who declared the function opened through the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration)- Professor Onuh Martin Onuh said that the ceremony celebrated on the 5th of every June was fashioned to enable man protect his God - given Environment and to safeguard it.
“Urbanization has dealt with us and everywhere, there is urbanization and this reduces the quantity of food produced”.
The Vice Chancellor decried indiscriminate dropping and dumping of refuse in unauthorized places by some unscrupulous individuals despite the provision of waste baskets and refuse dumping centres by the government noting that apart from precipitating environmental pollution, degradation and devastation, the ugly practice equally causes avoidable diseases to the citizenry.
He equally frowned at indiscriminate felling of trees without replacing them which deprives us of oxygen.
Professor Patricia Duru, -Dean Faculty of Environmental Sciences of the Institution said that as a faculty dedicated to the study and practice of the Built and Natural Environment, the Faculty is conscious of the critical role of Environmental professionals, Policy Makers, Researchers and Citizens in Advancing Sustainable Urban Development.
She said that through Education, Research, Advocacy And Community Engagement, the citizens must continue to champion innovative solutions that make our cities greener, safer and more resilient.
