By Barbara Nwaiwu
Nigeria has launched its first National Household Survey on Climate Change as part of efforts to strengthen climate governance through data driven and gender responsive policymaking across the country.
The survey, which runs from May 14 to 21, is designed to generate nationally representative data on how climate change affects households across Nigeria’s five climatic zones, with a strong focus on gender and social inclusion.
The initiative is being implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) under the Gender Inclusive Climate Change Governance (GENCGOV) research programme funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The programme is being carried out in collaboration with academic, government, research and civil society partners across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and the United Kingdom, including the University of Bradford, Environmental Law Research Institute (ELRI), Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Nigeria), Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI Nigeria) and Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN).
Speaking at the launch, Associate Professor at the University of Bradford and Principal Investigator of GENCGOV, Dr Pedi Obani, said the initiative would help improve inclusive climate governance in Nigeria through evidence-based policymaking.
“Without gender-disaggregated data, climate policy is flying blind. This groundbreaking national survey marks a major step toward inclusive, evidence-based climate governance in Nigeria by generating critical insights into how climate change affects women and men differently across diverse climatic zones,” she said.
Obani explained that the survey adopts an intersectional framework that examines how climate vulnerability is shaped by factors including gender, age, livelihood, access to resources, decision-making power and geographical location.
According to her, the findings would help policymakers move beyond assumptions and develop more responsive climate policies.
“The findings will help shift climate governance from broad assumptions to inclusive, data-driven action. It will equip policymakers with the tools to design more responsive and equitable climate policies, strengthen Nigeria’s leadership in gender-responsive climate governance, and amplify the country’s credibility and influence in global climate negotiations,” she stated.
Executive Director of the Environmental Law Research Institute, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN), described the survey as a major milestone for climate justice and inclusive governance in Nigeria.
“The inauguration of Nigeria’s first National Household Survey on Climate Change is a watershed moment in building a more resilient, equitable and climate-just future,” he said.
Fagbohun noted that integrating gender-disaggregated and intersectional evidence into climate research would help governments develop policies that reflect the realities faced by vulnerable communities.
“This survey will support national and state governments to move beyond generic adaptation measures towards data-driven, gender-responsive interventions that reflect local vulnerabilities and priorities,” he added.
Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NBS, Mr Adeniran Adeyemi, said reliable and inclusive data remained critical for effective climate policy formulation.
“The National Bureau of Statistics is proud to implement Nigeria’s first National Household Survey on Climate Change. Reliable, inclusive data are essential for effective policymaking, particularly in addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change,” he said.
Adeyemi added that the survey would provide evidence on how climate change affects households differently across the country and support the development of sustainable and gender-sensitive interventions.
Chairman of HEDA Nigeria, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, also stressed the importance of the survey’s gender-focused approach.
“Gender-disaggregated approach isn’t about dividing the issue. Its about seeing the full picture so solutions reach the people most affected and leverage the roles everyone already plays,” he said.
According to organisers, the survey includes household interviews and community level focus group discussions aimed at gathering direct experiences from affected communities.
A pretest conducted in Abuja in April reportedly highlighted concerns from participants about previous surveys that failed to produce visible outcomes, reinforcing the need for policies tied to tangible action and community feedback.
The findings of the survey are expected to be presented during the GENCGOV International Conference scheduled for June 23 to 24 in Abuja.