Katsina State stakeholders have faulted the Federal Government’s policy to remove fuel subsidies, arguing that it is harming the environment, food security, and the economy. They said as gas and kerosene become more expensive, people resort to chopping down trees for charcoal, worsening deforestation.
At a Climate Action Summit themed ‘Our Call To Action’ held in the state capital on Sunday, Dr Mustapha Shehu explained that they organised the summit because Katsina and other Northwestern states have experienced a significant increase in temperatures, reaching up to 44 degrees Celsius, over the past two months.
He said it was high time the government looked into revenue generation and the implications of cutting trees, which affect everyone.
In his words:
“Energy, especially for use in the house, cooking, and other normal daily life, is very important and necessary for all human beings, but some of the stringed policies of the Federal Government, like the removal of fuel, gas, and other related product subsidies, are creating a lot of havoc.
“So it’s high time for the government to understand that, in addition to revenue generation, it should consider the implications of cutting trees, which affect everyone.
“No matter what action we take here, climate education is key to ensuring a clean and climate-friendly Katsina State; otherwise, some of the actions we take could even be adverse to addressing climate change.
“Already, neighbouring states and countries have started showing signs of excessive adverse effects of climate change; hence, there is a need to ensure that the environment is made friendly for citizens,” Shehu noted.
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