By Margaret Akolo

Nasarawa State House of Assembly has been called upon to as a matter of urgency enact a law prohibiting indiscriminate bush burning and felling of trees in the state.

This was contained in a paper on climate change presented by Miss Fatima Abu at this year’s International Youth Day celebration, organized by COMPASS held at the Center for Youth, Women and Community Action (NACWYCA) in Lafia recently.

Miss Abu who is the programme officer of NACWYCA said the theme of this year’s celebration "Youth and climate change" was carefully selected in recognition of the fact that climate change was already beginning to devastate many communities thereby intensifying the effects of poverty and hunger which she said affected mostly the youth.

Miss Abu also attributed climatic change to the continue increase in human activities such as industrial waste bush burning and felling of trees, and the use of generator, fire wood and charcoal as alternative sources of energy. She appealed to government and all stake holders to intensify efforts towards improving electricity supply to all and also make kerosene and cooking gas an available at affordable prices.

Miss Abu also said this year’s international youth day has given the world an opportunity to recognize the potentials of youths and to celebrate their achievements, as well as enable them plan for ways that would better engage young people to take part in the development of their societies.

In a remark at the occasion COMPASS co-dinator on Reproductive Wealth and Family Planning, Hajiya Kubura Ahamed said, the celebration was part of COMPASS commitment to improve the well-being of the society and she further commended NACWYCA for organizing the youth to participate.

Speaking earlier, the officer in charge of research, monitoring and evaluation Mr. Charles Osheka Orume who represented the Director of NACWYCA said apart from HIV/AIDS, global warming was another serious threat to human survival and called on individuals, government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to join in the fight.