By Abdullahi Lukman
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called for urgent and coordinated action on climate change, warning that Nigeria faces escalating environmental threats that could worsen poverty and food insecurity nationwide.
Kalu made the call following the successful defence of his doctoral thesis titled “Government Capacity to Integrate International Climate Adaptation Strategies and Policies in Nigeria” at Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), where he earned a PhD in Policy and Strategic Studies.
Highlighting Nigeria’s vulnerability, Kalu noted that prolonged droughts in the North and rising sea levels in southern coastal areas are already impacting agricultural productivity and infrastructure.
He added that the nation’s dependence on rain-fed agriculture makes it especially susceptible to climate shocks.
He cited the 2024 flooding as a critical example, which damaged over 1.5 million hectares of farmland across 29 states, affected more than 9 million people, and contributed to acute food insecurity for 25 million Nigerians—a figure projected to rise to 33 million by mid-2025.
The lawmaker said his research focused on how Nigeria can better integrate international climate adaptation policies into its national frameworks to build long-term resilience.
“I didn’t come for a title. I came to pick up tools for nation-building,” he explained.
Kalu emphasized the need to strengthen local academic institutions and encouraged Nigerian youth to embrace opportunities available within the country.
He praised the quality of education at the university, stating, “I have studied around the world, and this institution delivered.”
He also revealed that he attended classes in disguise, wearing casual clothes to avoid special treatment.
“Universities are not for fanfare. They are there to help the nation grow,” he said, adding that his research outcomes would inform legislative debates in the National Assembly.
