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Prof. Lekan Oyebande, a climate change consultant with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, has advised Nigerians as well as indigenous and foreign companies operating in the country to insure their properties against the effects of climate change.
Oyebande gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that insurance was an adaptation measure for the adverse effects of climate change in the future.
``Individual households can help themselves to take insurance; when you build a house, take insurance, if you have flood, fire, you can recover it; these are things that one can do.
``In that area what we are experiencing now is still small compared to what we expect in the coming decades, it could really be more serious so we need to really prepare.’’
Echoing the same view, another climate change specialist, Mr Jubril Hanidu, also urged farmers and those living in flood prone areas to insure their farmlands and property against similar effect of climate change.
Hanidu, a retired director in the Hydrogeology unit of the same ministry, noted that valuable properties could be protected through good insurance schemes to stem the effects of climate change.
``The people need really to be alert they have a lot of responsibility in trying to mitigate the effects of climate change.
``If we develop the culture of insuring your houses, those of us who would not mind living in flood plains.
``Farmers,their crops, if anything adverse happens to my crops as a farmer or I do not have enough fish, I would have something to fall back on economically, it won’t be a total loss.
``Or if my house gets washed off by the floods, since I’ve been paying for my premium, then the insurance company will come, give me money or look for elsewhere to stay.’’
While expressing dismay at the poor insurance culture of most Nigerians, Hanidu urged insurance companies to live up to their mandate to encourage insurance culture and patronage. (NAN)
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