The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nuruddeen Muhammad, has stressed the need for harmonisation of policies by ECOWAS member states to holistically address issues on climate change.

Mohammed made the call in Enugu on Monday while opening a workshop. The workshop was entitled: “The Implication of Climate Change on Human Security and Integration Process in West Africa: Issues and Lessons for Nigeria’’.

The minister said that the objective of the workshop was to bring to the implications of climate change on human security to stakeholders.

The minister, represented by an official of the ministry Amb. Kabiru Garuba, said this had become necessary to mitigate the effects of drought, erosion, deforestation, desertification and epidemics.

He contended that deforestation and other environmental challenges posed dangers to security in the sub-region

Muhammed noted that most ECOWAS citizens lived in rural areas, adding that they were highly affected by the effects of climate change.

The Governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime, said the workshop was apt and crucial, considering the diverse impact of climate change on health and other facets of human endeavour.

Chime, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr John Egbo, thanked the ministry for choosing Enugu for the workshop, challenging participants to contribute meaningfully to mitigate the challenges of climate change.