The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Nigeria holds the distressing position of being second globally in terms of child climate-related risks.
This ranking highlights the severe vulnerability of millions of Nigerian children who are affected each year by environmental disasters such as devastating floods, prolonged droughts, and extreme heatwaves.
UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, made this announcement at an event held at the British High Commission in Abuja, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions.
In response to this critical situation, the United Kingdom Government has announced a significant funding package of £19 million aimed at boosting climate-resilient health and education services in Northern Nigeria.
The pilot states for this initiative are Kano and Jigawa, regions particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change.
Saeed emphasised that investing in climate-smart infrastructure is a crucial step not only for protecting essential services but also for empowering local communities to safeguard their children’s future against environmental threats.
Cynthia Rowe, the Development Director for Nigeria, elaborated on the project, noting that this investment is designed to serve as a model for future replication across the nation.
The initiative, named CRIBS, specifically targets 84 facilities for improvement, 39 primary healthcare centres and 45 schools, which will be upgraded to withstand the growing threats posed by a changing climate.
Through these child climate adaptation measures, the project seeks to ensure that schools and healthcare centres remain fully operational and safe havens for children and families, even during severe weather conditions, thereby securing continuous access to essential services.
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cc: Daily Post NG
