Gombe State has commenced the development of a comprehensive Climate Change Policy and Action Plan aimed at strengthening the state’s capacity to mitigate the effects of climate change and build resilience across critical sectors.
The initiative, supported technically by UNICEF, was unveiled during a high-level inception meeting convened by the Gombe State Ministry of Water, Environment and Forest Resources at the ministry’s headquarters.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from the health, education, water and environment sectors, civil society organisations, the Gombe State House of Assembly, and development partners including NEWMAP-EIB, NG-SURWASH and ACReSAL.
Declaring the meeting open, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Abubakar Kumo, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, stressed the urgency of establishing a state-backed framework to tackle the growing climate challenge.
“Climate change affects every facet of human activity,” he said. “This policy will provide the framework to institutionalise our response and protect livelihoods across Gombe State.”
He urged stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to ensure the policy is inclusive, practical and responsive to the needs of communities across the state.
Speaking during the technical session, UNICEF WASH Specialist, Mrs Stella Ifeoma Okafor-Tervor, said the state’s environmental sustainability drive under Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s Gombe Goes Green (3G) Initiative required a robust policy framework to guarantee its continuity and effectiveness.
“UNICEF is committed to making this actionable,” she said. “But all sectors must work together. Climate change poses serious risks and uncertainties to WASH service delivery, and this policy must address that.”
Okafor-Tervor, alongside UNICEF colleague Engr. Boyejo Damola, presented a paper titled Climate Change: A Source of Risk and Uncertainty in WASH Service Delivery, highlighting how climate variability threatens water security, sanitation services and public health outcomes.
Participants from NEWMAP-EIB, ACReSAL and NG-SURWASH underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration, community ownership and alignment with national and international climate commitments.
They noted that experiences from ongoing interventions in erosion control, land restoration and climate adaptation would provide valuable insights for the policy development process.
When completed, the Gombe State Climate Change Policy and Action Plan is expected to serve as a strategic roadmap for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience-building efforts, providing a coordinated response to environmental challenges confronting the state.
