Ben Kalu asks refugee commission to provide data on people displaced by climate crisis

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, has asked the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to provide data on climate-induced disasters.

Kalu made the demand on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with Ahmed Tijani, federal commissioner at the NCFRMI.

The deputy speaker said parliament is interested in the data of people displaced by flooding and erosion for national needs analysis.

Kalu said some Nigerians forced to migrate to neighbouring countries due to climate disasters are eager to return home and be resettled.

“Your mandate includes refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). You can’t be internally displaced only through war or crisis. You can be internally displaced through climate-induced displacement and that is what we are experiencing now,” he said.

“The climate is at war with us. So, the issue of mitigation, and adaptation is something that as a government, we must take seriously.

“But in doing that, agencies like you who manage the consequences of these climate impacts need to be aware that it is beyond the visibility we are seeing that is given to it currently.

“We heard of what happened in Maiduguri. I mentioned it even before the African Union (AU). Beyond Maiduguri, a lot more is happening around the country.

“Those people are chased out of their homes and when they are chased out who handles them? It is your commission. Then how prepared are you?

“I checked your budget last year, I was wondering if that budget, in view of what we are seeing now, the impact of this climate change, if a budget of N1.6 billion or thereabout will be able to handle that across the country.

“And I have not heard your agency bring it to the fore both in the parliament and also to Nigerians maybe through a documentary to show us the volume of the needs analysis, showcasing the plight of Nigerians.

“There are so many people suffering due to climate change. The parliament needs to hear from you on the total national needs analysis of internally displaced persons. And the impact of climate-induced displacement. We need to get a document on that.”

Kalu asked the commission to provide the data within two weeks.

“These are some of the conversations that the parliament is interested in with your office and I hope by the time we meet again, you will be able to feed us more details we can work with,” he said.

Tijani promised to provide the report within the deadline.

“We will put the reports together, both the refugees and displaced persons, to show the parliament and for you to also see the plight of the commission in the area of funding,” Tijani said.