Nigeria, with its vast landmass and teeming population, today again faces the stark realities of climate change. It had some of its worst cases of climate-induced flood catastrophes in 2012 and 2022, thus making the urgency to build climate resilience more critical now than ever before.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) recently highlighted the severe threats posed to the nation’s 830-kilometer coastline, with coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution wreaking havoc on the Niger Delta region. These challenges are not isolated incidents but rather symptoms of a broader crisis that demands immediate and comprehensive action by the federal government and indeed all stakeholders across the verticals.
The socioeconomic disruptions in the Niger Delta – where ocean encroachment and rising sea levels threaten homes and farmlands – are a glaring example of the risks we face as a nation. Yet, the threat is not confined to our coastal regions. Northern Nigeria is grappling with accelerating desertification, which devastates agricultural lands and imperils livelihoods. Meanwhile, the southeast battles severe erosion, damaging infrastructure, and threatening food security.
These diverse yet interconnected challenges clearly show that Nigeria’s approach to climate change must be holistic. Infrastructure development, ecosystem management, community engagement, and international cooperation are not just buzzwords; they are the pillars upon which our survival depends.
The stakes are high, and the time for complacency has long passed. The devastating floods of 2022, which claimed hundreds of lives and displaced millions, serve as a harsh reminder of what is at risk. These events are not anomalies – they are becoming the norm in a world where climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality.
We must acknowledge that climate change is as much an economic issue as an environmental one. The loss of arable land, the destruction of infrastructure, and the displacement of communities all have profound economic implications. As Simon Ezinkwo from the Federal Ministry of Environment rightly pointed out, a robust strategy that includes climate-smart infrastructure and sustainable land management practices is essential for mitigating these risks.
However, building resilience is not just about policy and infrastructure; it is about fostering a collective sense of responsibility. This is where education and collaboration come into play. As Henry Bassey of GreenHub Africa Foundation emphasised, real change begins with educating the public and forging strategic alliances across the private, public, and civil society sectors.
All stakeholders must begin to create forums for cross fertilisation of ideas that will lead to the development of workable solutions to Nigeria’s environmental challenges. Such forums, even hosted by subnational institutions or the organised private sector like the National Economic Summit Group, will enable Nigeria to harness diverse perspectives and expertise to tackle the pressing issues.
NatureNews believes the time to act is now. Nigeria must act expeditiously and prioritize climate resilience within the framework of the national agenda on sustainable environment, and recognizing that the future of our nation depends on the steps we take today.
We are concerned that failure to act now will not only exacerbate the challenges we already face but will also compromise the well-being of future generations.