The Plateau State Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development has inaugurated the Plateau State Climate Assembly (PSCA), at an event which took place Monday, 2nd, through Thursday, 5th June, 2025 at the Crispan Suites and Events Centre, Jonah Jang Way, Jos.
Performing the ceremony, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Arc. Samuel Jatau said the indiscriminate felling of trees in the state is responsible for the change in climate conditions.
He added that Plateau State, being the first to inaugurate such an assembly in Nigeria and even Africa, should lead the way for other states and countries by adopting policies and producing documents that will promote the right attitude to the environment.
Jatau urged the assembly to step down the message of climate change to all the local government areas in the state to improve the people’s living standards, as he said that would also stem poverty at the grassroots.
Earlier, the commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, Hon. Peter Kanang Gwom, stated that Plateau State is not just a home, but also the people’s heritage and their shared responsibility.
He noted that Plateau State is known for its cool climate, natural beauty, rich soil, high agricultural output, but that it has now found itself in the grip of rising temperature, erratic rainfall, increased flooding, public health challenges, desertification, gully erosion, and low agricultural yield, among others.
The commissioner maintained that the land is under pressure and that the future demands urgent and united action, and urged citizens to come together to forge a common front to secure the land, which he described as a precious gift from God.
Gwom further added that erratic rainfall patterns have distorted farming activities and that new parasites are also affecting crops, noting that poor farmers are now poorer due to the effects of climate change.
According to the Commissioner, the global ecosystem has been disrupted, and this has a devastating impact on biodiversity, resulting in the loss of some species of animals and plants, hence the creation of the first climate change assembly in Nigeria and even Africa.
The Climate Assembly is a new approach to tackling the effects of climate change, which the Commissioner said will yield multiple strategic benefits for the state, such as policy legitimacy and inclusivity, strengthening governance and resilience, elevated state profile, and access to climate finance.
Goodwill messages were received from the Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Environment, Hon. Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Plateau State, and Chairman, Joint Plateau State Traditional Council.
The highlight of the event was a tree planting activity to mark World Environment Day.
Credit: Kaleng Isaac
