Climate change issues in my community: situation, fears and call for intervention

Introduction
Bayelsa State, South-South Region, Nigeria, West Africa is among hardest hit region of the world, by extensive, sporadic effects of climate change, especially the issue of global warming.

The communities are now something else, and people of different classes are no more at ease with the present situation.

Situation (Before and Now)
Excessive heat has been the customised situation of the region at every point in time, for over a decade years now (from research and preserved archive of the region). Be it winter or summer, everyone must sweat profusely.

Everybody regards it as normal endowment as long as it is not claiming lives and properties. However the situation is getting out of hands now. The falling of the rain does no longer gives signs, when to start, and stop. Often time, it could last 2days continuously.

Meanwhile, the soil structure does not permeate water easily, thereby leading to the following physical effects:

Flooding: Situation whereby, many communities have already been deserted by the residence in the past few weeks and many are currently parking out, with loss of valuable properties (damaged either during unexpected midnight flooding or out of home situation)
Traffic Pandemonium: Due to soil structure that does not permeate water easily, whenever it rains, it causes traffic pandemonium, which often results into loss of lives, from auto accidents.
Farming Activities Disruption: (Fish farming, and crop farming) - Farming activities which is being regarded as one of the major means of livelihood of the region is constantly being disrupted due to many reasons (including environmental factors).
Carburettor- Engine Component Vehicles at Higher Risk: Thousand of Vehicles using carburettor had been grounded, due to salt nature of the water in the region, which is anti-cuburrator.

Fears (Anxiety of the People)
What is happening? Is God angry? We this place alone? Should we go on fasting and prayers till the situation become normal? What shall we do?

These are few of the numerous questions of the people, trying as at anytime there is a conversation about the issue on ground. However, there are plans on grounds by MICADO (a youth led organisation, the source of this report) to conscientise the people about the causes, effects, efforts, impacts, and way forward of the current situation.

Call for Intervention
Assuredly, the United Nations, and other development partners, are doing great job on the areas of global-climate change. However, this region (Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria, West Africa) is shouting, and calling for intervention.

Respectfully yours,
Opeyemi Yekini.
National PRO, C-NAN (Christian Network on AIDS in Nigeria)
Project Director, MICADO, Nigeria.
MICADO, Ifelodun Cooperative Building, Erepa Road, Yenezuegene-Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State.