By joshua 
The Global climate change is becoming more worrisome as the sea level continues to rise.
Climate change is said to be the long-term increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature and the large-scale changes in global, regional and local weather pattern that results into rising sea levels and other climatic conditions.
According to Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, Nigeria is the 53rd most climate vulnerable country,but it is the 6th least- ready country in the world to adapt to climate change , even though there are climate change indicators.
Yemi Balogun reports that, this again exposes how “poor regulation” and “gaps” in the enforcement of laws on environment endangers millions of Nigerians.
Bringing it closer, In Lokoja the Kogi State capital, the state playing host to the River Niger and Benue, there is an evidence of climate change which has continued to sweep away homes, farmlands and properties worth millions of Naira are disappearing into the sea as hundreds of residents in Kogi have watched helplessly as the flood sweeps away their homes with business owners recounting their loses. This, experts have linked to climate change, an evidence of rising sea level.
The disastrous effects
More than five people including a three year old baby have been reported dead in Lokoja and Ibaji local government area where the floods have displaced over 95 percent of it’s residents permanently, an occurrence repeating itself for the second time since 2012 where displaced persons had no choice than to move to Idah , another local government area in Kogi State.
Hubs for commercial activities like the market places are being submerged by water, travellers are stranded, roads linking to some border states have been taken over by the flood as resident seek alternative transport routes using the canoe which is now ‘The new normal”.
More worrisome is the rate at which some miscreants have turned the unfortunate incident to a beehive of criminal activities, carting away properties of people who were unable to evacuate their homes as the water trapped most of their luggages despite series of warnings.
In Kogi state no fewer than 9 out of the 21 LGAs have been greatly affected by flood.
Meanwhile, some displaced persons camped in selected primary Schools have alleged that,some government officials delegated to give succour to these victims have diverted the items, leaving them with crumbs.
It is also very important to note that some school children ,both in the primary and secondary schools have resorted to staying at home as their schools have been used as safe haven to temporarily keep displaced persons, some miscreants are ceasing the opportunity to cart away with peoples properties that were trapped in water.
As the victims call on relevant authorities to provide aids to ease them, they expressed optimism that conversations around getting a permanent solution to this unpleasant situation will be at the front burner even as the flood begins to recede.
It is important to state that, even though climate changes are triggered by human activities,there is still room for proactive measures to be taken to curtail these disastrous effect which the affected communities may not be able to recover from any time soon.
End
Yemi Balogun