As the world, including Nigeria, battles climate change, experts and environmentalists have called on government to be more proactive to the crisis.

They also called on government to make sure policies are in place, and implemented to protect the environment.

The experts gave the call during a two-day programme organised by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource centre) in partnership with Oxfam and Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), in Lagos, with the theme: ‘On The Road To COP 27: What Should Climate Justice Mean For Africa.’

HEDA Resource Centre Executive Secretary, Mr. Arigbabu Sulaimon, said failure of government in providing basic social amenities has been compounded by the impact of climate change.

“When we say government did not do enough, we are talking about its failure to build infrastructure, and not whether the infrastructure is resilient,” he lamented.

Assistant Director and Head, Climate Change Unit, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Azeezat Subair, said: “Managing climate requires more efforts from all; from government having the political will to putting in place right policies. In that case, everyone will know his or her role to be able to do what is possible in tackling the climate crisis to obtain sustainable environment, considering that the earth is for everybody. So, we must think and act locally for a sustainable environment.”

She added that all hands must be on deck to fight flooding and climate change.

“Flood knows no bound when it comes; it sweeps off everybody and everything; life and property will be lost. So, it is up to us to take actions; we should desist from building on flood channels,” she said.

We should not pour our waste into the drainage so that it doesn’t get blocked,” she advised.

President, Ogbonge Women Farmers, Ms. Chinansa Asoye, urged that women farmers be included in agriculture budget, lamenting that they don’t feel policies and their implementation.

Also, Research Fellow, Molecular Plant Pathology, Kafilat Adedeji, in her contribution, said they need technology to boost the agricultural sector, and output of food production, calling for the support of government to make food security achievable.