Abia Finalizes Environmental Strategy to Draw International Financial Support

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The Abia State Government has concluded work on its Climate Change Policy, a move aimed at positioning the state to access international climate financing and strengthen efforts to tackle environmental challenges.

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The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

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Kanu said the policy document was awaiting the governor’s approval before becoming operational.

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According to him, the policy will provide a comprehensive framework for addressing climate-related challenges and open up access to global climate funding.

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“The Abia State Climate Change Policy Document is ready for sign-off by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State. As soon as the Governor signs off on that document and it becomes operational, the international community will begin to take Abia State more seriously in the state’s efforts to combat climate change, particularly with regard to opening up several climate funding opportunities across sectors in the state,” he said.

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The commissioner said implementation of the policy would help mitigate environmental challenges, including flooding, erosion, heat waves and food insecurity, while promoting sustainable development.

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“The implementation of the policy will reduce climate issues in Abia State, for example, in such areas as health, flood, erosion, heat waves and decline in food security, among others, while guaranteeing sustainability,” Kanu added.

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He also disclosed that Governor Otti had directed the Ministry of Environment to immediately deploy mitigation measures at the Amamba Uzuakoli erosion site in Bende Local Government Area and the Ipupe Ubakala flood site in Umuahia South Local Government Area.

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According to him, the Commissioner for Environment and a team of engineers had already carried out on-the-spot assessments, while work was underway to commence erosion and flood control measures to prevent further environmental degradation and protect lives and property.

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Kanu also said the Ministry of Environment sustained its house-to-house environmental sanitation inspection across the state’s 17 local government areas.

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He disclosed that officials visited 103 communities for environmental health education, sensitisation and sanitary inspections, while about 9,000 premises were inspected for compliance with environmental health standards.

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According to him, about 37,500 abatement notices were issued to premises found to be in violation of environmental health regulations, while 2,500 premises complied after follow-up inspections.

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The commissioner attributed the state’s environmental sanitation progress to sustained enforcement by health officials and increased public cooperation.

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“With these sanitary inspection interventions, Abia State continues to score very highly in environmental cleanliness among the comity of states in the country,” he said.

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