Rahab Yusuf
Kano State Government has taken a major step towards institutionalizing climate governance by validating a draft Climate Change Bill.
Stallion Times reports that the Kano State Climate Change Policy was unveiled in July 2025.
The validation workshop, organized by the Ministry of Water Resource, Environment and Climate Change on Friday at the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) conference hall in Kano, brought together key stakeholders from government ministries, academia, civil society organizations, local government councils, women’s groups, persons with disabilities, development partners, and the private sector.
The exercise was designed to refine the proposed legislation through stakeholder input before it proceeds to the Kano State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.
The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Comprehensive Management of Climate Change in Kano State and for Related Matters, 2026,” seeks to establish a legal framework for climate governance and coordinated climate action across the state.
Bilkisu H. Aliyu Esq, the Ministry’s Legal Adviser, who presented the draft bill, said the proposed law would establish a robust legal and institutional framework for coordinated climate action in Kano State.
According to her, the bill seeks to strengthen climate governance, establish a dedicated climate change fund, promote adaptation and mitigation measures, and improve government responses to climate-related challenges, including flooding, rising temperatures, desertification, and changing rainfall patterns.
Aliyu Esq., explained that the legislation also introduces compliance measures for violators, mandatory annual climate reporting, and mechanisms to ensure the inclusion of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in climate policy formulation and implementation.
She noted that the draft legislation is structured around six key pillars: governance, sector action, climate financing, transparency, inclusion and accountability, covering critical sectors such as agriculture, urban planning, forestry and land management, transport, energy, waste management and sanitation, health, and industry.
Earlier, representing the Commissioner for the Ministry of Water Resource, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim. the commissioner’s Technical Adviser, Dr. Aliyu Baba Nabegu, described the proposed legislation as a significant milestone in Kano’s efforts to build resilience against the effects of climate change.
He said Kano’s strategic location and growing population have increased pressure on the state’s resources, with migration from neighbouring states, rising temperatures, and declining rainfall making climate adaptation an urgent priority.
Dr. Nabegu revealed that meteorological data collected by the ministry indicates significant changes in rainfall patterns over the past few years, prompting the government to intensify preparations for what is expected to be a more severe rainy season.
“The rainfall we have been receiving over the past five years is not the same as what we are experiencing this year. The data we have gathered points to a more intense rainy season,” he said.
He added that the state government has already begun strengthening drainage infrastructure and implementing other preventive measures to reduce the risk of flooding in vulnerable communities.
Participants at the workshop commended the initiative and offered recommendations to further strengthen the draft legislation before its submission for legislative approval.
The Ministry of Water Resource, Environment and Climate Change also assured stakeholders that consultations would continue, stressing that its doors remain open for additional suggestions and contributions to ensure the bill reflects the collective aspirations of the people and supports a sustainable, climate-resilient future for Kano State.
