BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has launched its first-ever Climate Change Accountability Mechanism, known as KADCCAM, in a move aimed at strengthening environmental governance and accelerating action against climate change and environmental degradation across the state.
The inauguration and swearing-in of the newly elected KADCCAM executives took place on Monday, January 27, 2026, at the Ministry of Environment, Kaduna, drawing participation from government officials, civil society organisations, media practitioners, academics and other key stakeholders in the environmental sector.
KADCCAM is designed as a multi-stakeholder platform to promote accountability, public awareness and inclusive engagement on pressing environmental challenges such as desertification, deforestation, flooding, gully erosion, global warming and other climate-induced threats affecting communities and ecosystems in Kaduna State.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, described the launch as a major milestone in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, noting that many of the challenges confronting Kaduna are largely driven by human activities.
Buba stressed that reversing environmental degradation would require collective action involving government, civil society, the media and the general public, adding that climate action can no longer be treated as the sole responsibility of government institutions.
“The challenges we face today are mostly man-made, and addressing them requires cooperation across all sectors of society,” the commissioner said, while urging the newly inaugurated executives to demonstrate professionalism, teamwork and commitment in the discharge of their duties.
He reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to partner with organisations and initiatives that align with its vision of improving environmental outcomes and enhancing the quality of life of citizens, adding that the Ministry of Environment remains open to strategic collaborations.
Buba also commended the composition of the KADCCAM leadership, particularly the inclusion of media and environmental communication experts, expressing confidence that their backgrounds in science and environmental journalism would strengthen public sensitisation through both traditional and digital media platforms.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Linda Yakubu, described the establishment of KADCCAM as timely, noting that it would play a critical role in educating citizens on climate change mitigation and environmental protection strategies.
She urged the executives to operate strictly within the 2025–2026 Action Plan Framework, with emphasis on accountability, coordination and measurable impact that would translate into tangible environmental improvements.
On behalf of the civil society co-chair of KADCCAM, Comrade Ibrahima Yakubu thanked the Kaduna State Government for the confidence reposed in civil society actors, describing the inauguration as a boost for inclusive climate governance and assuring that the team would deliver results during its three-month tenure.
Yakubu also commended the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Change (PACE) for its technical and institutional support, acknowledging the Kaduna PACE Project Office for facilitating the successful launch of the climate accountability mechanism.
