Global climate change is a reality that is unlikely to go away. Nigeria cannot afford to continue ignoring the potential negative impact on its oil-based economy. It should begin to take steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and endeavour to diversify its economy away from dependence on fossil fuels, in both production and consumption, argues Jekwu Ikeme.

Africa's natural resources are being depleted with little gain to its economies. To improve their international competitiveness, African nations should treat these resources as capital, modify the present unsuitable system of national income accounting and press for reform of the global trading system that is biased against natural resource-dependent economies, argues Jekwu Ikeme.