President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed the “severe climate challenges” that Nigeria faces in the Sahara Desert and Lake Chad.
He spoke in New York on Friday, shortly before he departed the United States for Nigeria after attending the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Buhari, who met with the Nigerian Youths Climate Group, said Nigeria’s proximity to the Sahara Desert had exposed the country to severe climate change challenges.
According to him, shrinking water in Lake Chad and declining rainfall automatically affect Nigeria.
He said, “Nigeria is Sahara Desert’s neighbour; Lake Chad is shrinking while population is exploding,” a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, quoted the President as telling the group.
It is a challenging situation. With less land, less rainfall, these are very unique problems for the country.”
The group went to New York to represent Nigerian youths at the 74th UNGA session.
Buhari said, “It is good you are participating so that you can appreciate the problems older people are having.”
While interacting with Buhari, a member of the group, Esther Agbarakwe, said, “This is the first time we are seeing a President sit with us. It gives us hope. We young people understand the problems, and are in the vanguard of advocacy.
“The United Nations Development Programme Climate Change Department works with us for solutions.”
Another member of the group, Hamzat Lawal, praised the President for signing the Not-Too-Young-to-Run Bill into law in 2018.
The bill, a constitutional amendment bill passed by the 8th National Assembly, reduced the age limit to contest President from 40 years to 35 years.
For the position of governor, the bill reduced the age qualification from 35 years to 30 years.
Lawal added, “We seek solutions to problems in the Sahel region. If we provide solutions to the Sahel, the world will be at peace.
“You have announced planting of 25 million trees and we youths plan to match it.”
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