The Federal Government and other pertinent agencies have been urged by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to assist Olam Limited, Nigeria and other companies that have been impacted by flooding in Nasarawa.
The Director-General, Mr. Olusola Obadimu, made the appeal on Monday in Lagos in reaction to the Nasarawa flood tragedy, which resulted in significant losses of food and property by local businesses.
The call, according to Obadimu, was crucial since Olam Farms had recently made a considerable contribution to the country’s consumption of rice.
According to him, the floods showed that the effects of ignoring SDGs 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action) were becoming more pronounced globally, particularly in Nigeria and African countries.
This, according to Obadimu, was making it harder to accomplish other objectives.
The significance of the calamity on the business, the surrounding area, and the threat to the environment’s deteriorating topography could not be overstated, he said, even though the $20 million investment was fully insured.
The director-general suggested that Olam Farm’s partially submerged areas might require some sort of rapid repair.
“We regret the recent flooding in the Doma Local Government and other areas of Nasarawa, reportedly caused by the River Benue overflowing its banks.
“This incident has resulted in a significant loss for various businesses and properties around the area.
“We recognise the contributions of OLAM FARM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to their host communities, as well as the significance of their farm to food production and the agricultural value chain.
“We also recognise the presence of other businesses around this area stretching all the way to the banks of Rivers Niger/Benue Confluence in Kogi State that were direly affected.
“We urge the Federal and affected States Governments, together with relevant government agencies to promptly put in place measures capable of supporting the farm and other businesses around in their salvaging and recovery efforts,” he said.
The head of NACCIMA suggested becoming more proactive in response to NiMET’s warnings about climate change and treating them with the utmost respect.
Although there were natural disasters in other regions, he claimed that they were typically better managed by taking preventive measures to guarantee that both human and material resources suffered the least amount of harm.
Obadimu noted that those nations would take important precautions to safeguard investments that provide a livelihood for thousands of people living near disaster-prone areas.
“Nigerians and private businesses must take climate change seriously, particularly concerning the need to minimise Carbon Dioxide emissions and in their corporate responsibilities to promote and advocate the climate change agenda, as well as promote, ultimately, the use of alternative green energy sources in Nigeria,” he said.
