By Abbas Nazil
The Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed the need for proactive and sustainable policies to combat climate change in West Africa.
The call was made by the committee chairman, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, during a visit by members of the C7 West Africa Project Consortium in Abuja on Friday, February 21.
Ekpenyong stressed that climate change poses one of the most urgent challenges in the region, particularly in the Niger Delta, where environmental degradation caused by decades of oil exploration has led to severe consequences.
He highlighted the increasing threats of rising sea levels, flooding, and erratic weather patterns, which have displaced communities and jeopardized livelihoods.
The senator warned that these climatic shifts are also exacerbating the spread of diseases, further straining an already burdened healthcare system.
The committee chairman underscored the need for a well-informed approach to tackling climate change, advocating for comprehensive data collection to guide effective policy formulation.
Without reliable data, he cautioned, any intervention risks being insufficient or misdirected.
He also noted the strong link between environmental degradation and social unrest in the Niger Delta, arguing that achieving lasting peace in the region requires addressing the root causes of instability.
In response, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, who led the delegation of the C7 West Africa Project Consortium, described climate change as an existential threat that is reshaping global security dynamics.
He pointed to the increasing crises seen across the world, particularly in the Sahel region and Northern Nigeria, where desertification is advancing rapidly.
Meanwhile, in Southern Nigeria, particularly in the South-South region, seasonal floods continue to cause significant destruction.
Abdullahi noted that West Africa is experiencing climate change at a rate faster than the global average, resulting in violent conflicts and worsening humanitarian crises.
He further emphasized that Nigeria is disproportionately affected due to climate change’s adverse impact on natural resource availability, biodiversity loss, and declining agricultural productivity.
He called for increased investment in research, mitigation, and adaptation strategies to enhance resilience against climate change.
He highlighted the efforts undertaken by his consortium over the past three years to develop policy recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges.
According to him, proactive measures must be taken to secure the future of communities affected by climate-related disasters.
The discussion between the Senate Committee and the C7 West Africa Project Consortium reflects growing recognition of the urgent need for sustainable climate policies in Nigeria.
As environmental and socio-economic pressures mount, stakeholders are pushing for a shift from reactive responses to long-term, data-driven strategies that prioritize resilience and stability.
