Bishop Kukah, Sheikh Lemu, El-Rufa’i address climate-induced conflicts in Nigeria

By Faridat Salifu

As Nigeria grapples with the dual challenges of environmental degradation and social unrest, the Clean Energy Hub in association with the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI), organized and staged a s Climate, Conflict and Fragility Summit that underscored the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to drive sustainable solutions to climate induced conflicts in the country.

The summit with the theme: “From Crisis to Resilience: Charting a Path Forward for Nigeria,” was held on Wednesday in Abuja.
The summit aimed to tackle the intricate links between climate change and societal conflict in Nigeria.

It underscored the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, involving government agencies, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations, to drive sustainable solutions to climate-induced conflicts.

Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Research and Training at the Dawah Institute of Nigeria, Nurudeen Lemu, underscores critical but often misunderstood relationship between climate and conflict.

He said: “The environment is the canvas for all plans to materialize, and when the canvas is threatened, what is the future of your plans?”

Lemu questioned, emphasizing the necessity of preventative measures over reactive solutions. He likened trees to self-technologies and 3D food printers, noting that “protecting a tree saves the next generation of trees through their seeds.”

In her letter of goodwill read during the summit, Rukayat El’ Rufai stressed the complex effects of climate change.

Part of her letter reads: “Climate change is a conflict-instigating factor in addition to an environmental concern. Food insecurity persists and needs to be addressed.

“We must prioritize mitigation and collaborative action,” she stated, highlighting the urgent need for integrated approaches to address these interconnected challenges.

The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Mathew gave an insight to the roots of conflict saying, “It is frailties that bring about conflict, not conflict that brings about frailties,” he asserted.

Bishop Kukah also criticized the lack of expertise in government-appointed positions responsible for handling climate change and conflict.

“The problem is that of lack of knowledge and good governance. No one looks at a deserving person to be put into positions to address issues of climate change or conflict,” he remarked.

The summit underscored the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, involving government agencies, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations, to drive sustainable solutions to climate-induced conflicts.