By Leonard Okachie
Abia State Government says it will collaborate with the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to mitigate the impact of climate change on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Mr Philemon Ogbonna, Commissioner for Environment and Urban Renewal, expressed this readiness during the CCD’s advocacy visit to his office in Umuahia on Thursday.
He said that the government had no choice but to collaborate with relevant agencies and bodies like CCD in order to achieve the principal goals of Dr Alex Otti-led administration.
Ogbonna described climate change as one of government’s cardinal areas of attention, stressing that it had already outlined strategies for inclusiveness.
He said: “We have some serious activities on climate change in our budget this year.
“We started a state-wide vulnerability assessment to know the effect of climate change on various sectors, including persons with disabilities.
“I assure you that moving forward, your existence as well as your challenges are known to us and the relationship has already started.
“One of the derivatives of climate change is international funding and I know very well that through your centre, we can also be connected and attract this funding, no matter how small.”
Earlier, the Senior Programme Officer, CCD, Mr Damian Ivom, said that the purpose of the visit was to brief the commissioner on the outcome of its research report on “Inclusive-Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for PWDs in Abia State.”
He said that the key findings of the survey affecting PWDs included increased vulnerability, limited awareness and education, inadequate policy and support system as well as barriers to participation.
Ivom said that one of the centre’s requests was for the ministry to ensure allocation of adequate budgetary provision for inclusive-climate adaptation and mitigation in the state.
He also requested partnership with the ministry to create public awareness on the impact of climate change on PWDs, train the ministry staff on how to engage PWDs amongst others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that leaders of different disability clusters in the state were part of the advocacy visit.(NAN)(
