By Daniel Karlmax
Environmental groups, including media organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs), have called for collective action, increased public awareness and stronger community engagement to address the growing challenges posed by climate change, particularly the anticipated effects of El Niño.
The call was made during the November edition of the Monthly Climate Hangout, organised in Kaduna by the Society for Equitable Development Foundation, EduMedia Climate Reform and Health Initiative, African Climate Reporters and the government.
The programme, themed “From Climate Warnings to Community Action: The Power of Media, NGOs and CSOs in Addressing Godzilla El Niñ, brought together stakeholders from different professional backgrounds to discuss practical measures for reducing the impact of climate change on communities.
Speaking on the theme, a practicing journalist and founder of EduMedia Climate Reform and Health Initiative, Garba Muhammad highlighted the connection between climate change and public health, warning that rising temperatures could increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, particularly in northern Nigeria.
Muhammad said his presentation focused on strengthening collaboration among CSOs, NGOs and faith-based organisations to minimise the anticipated effects of extreme heat.
He stressed the need for the media to amplify public enlightenment campaigns initiated by civil society groups and support advocacy efforts directed at government institutions.
He also called for transparency and accountability in the allocation and utilisation of climate-related funds, particularly in communities likely to experience severe heat conditions.
According to him, government should consider providing cold drinking water outlets along major roads and establishing shaded resting points at strategic intervals to protect pedestrians and people whose livelihoods require them to spend long hours outdoors.
He cited Saudi Arabia as an example of a country that provides water outlets for people, particularly during the Hajj pilgrimage, noting that similar interventions could be introduced in Kaduna State and other parts of Nigeria.
“Basically, my presentation is to bring about the collaboration among CSOs, the NGOs and faith-based organizations on measures to be taken to reduce the effect of the El Niño that has been forecasted to take over thirty thousand lives in Nigeria, mostly in the north where you have high heat conditions”.
Also speaking, Pastor Yohanna Buru of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Fellowship, also a human rights activist and peace ambassador, called for the involvement of religious leaders, traditional institutions and grassroots communities in climate action.
He expressed concern over environmental practices such as indiscriminate tree felling, excessive reliance on firewood and charcoal, and uncontrolled bush burning, describing them as threats to environmental sustainability.
He urged Christian and Muslim leaders, traditionalists and other community stakeholders to use their places of worship and community platforms to educate people about environmental protection and the dangers of climate change.
In her remarks, Rahama Suleiman from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kaduna State, reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to support public enlightenment and community mobilisation initiatives.
Suleiman said the NOA routinely works with traditional and religious leaders, ward heads, village heads and district heads to disseminate information about government policies and programmes.
She expressed optimism that collaboration among the NOA, NGOs, CSOs and other stakeholders would strengthen grassroots awareness and improve community understanding of climate change.
Earlier, Dr. Halima Haruna of Kaduna Polytechnic emphasised the importance of water security, sanitation and environmental protection in addressing the consequences of rising temperatures.
She explained that increased temperatures could accelerate the evaporation of surface water, potentially reducing the amount of water available for infiltration and groundwater recharge.
Haruna also warned that poor environmental conditions and inadequate sanitation could encourage the spread of disease-carrying rodents, insects and flies, thereby increasing public health concerns.
According to her, the media must provide timely and accurate information, NGOs should implement interventions, CSOs should drive advocacy, government should provide leadership, while communities must actively participate in climate-related initiatives.
Also presenting, Tawa Ismail from the Society for Equitable Development Foundation said the organisation had introduced Climate Money project, a six-month, youth-led initiative supported by the African Climate Network (NA African), designed to advance Kaduna State’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitments on climate governance, transparency and accountability.
Ismail said the initiative would introduce a toolkit titled “Where Is the Climate Money?” to promote gender-responsive budget advocacy and equip 20 youth champions with the skills required to analyse government budgets, engage relevant authorities and track climate-related allocations.
The stakeholders stressed that addressing climate change and the anticipated effects of El Niño requires sustained collaboration, adequate government investment, transparent climate financing and community-driven awareness campaigns.
They urged the media, government institutions, development partners, religious bodies and community leaders to translate climate warnings into practical actions that would protect vulnerable populations and strengthen environmental resilience.
Editing By Godwin Duru
