Persons with disabilities included in nigeria’s climate adaptation framework, officials say amid push for stronger awareness

 

By Faridat Salifu

Persons with disabilities are already included in Nigeria’s climate change and adaptation planning frameworks, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that vulnerable groups are not left out of national responses to climate risks and conflict pressures, officials have said.

Findings from a 2025 policy report titled “Integrating Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding into Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan Process: Findings from the National Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment” show that disability inclusion is embedded within Nigeria’s climate governance structure through the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.

The report was developed under the NAP Global Network with support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and contributions from Nigerian climate governance experts working on adaptation, peacebuilding and vulnerability assessment.

It highlights that persons with disabilities are among the groups considered in Nigeria’s climate change policy framework, alongside gender-focused and other vulnerable populations, as part of broader efforts to ensure inclusive planning at national and subnational levels.

Speaking at a three-day Peer Learning Forum on Peacebuilding and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes held in Abuja, the Director of the Department of Climate Change at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, said the department largely operates at policy level, while implementation of climate actions is carried out across federal, state and local government levels.

She explained that activities and climate actions are being implemented at community level through relevant institutions, with inclusion considerations already built into policy direction.

On persons with disabilities, she said Nigeria’s climate change policy on gender and social inclusion ensures that different groups, including persons with disabilities, are taken into consideration in planning and implementation processes.

She also pointed to early warning systems as a key part of Nigeria’s climate preparedness strategy, noting the role of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in providing seasonal rainfall predictions and other climate information in collaboration with relevant institutions.

According to her, these early warning systems are critical for guiding preparedness and response actions ahead of climate events such as flooding and drought, and are expected to be factored into ongoing adaptation programmes.

She further explained that Nigeria is currently preparing its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) under the coordination of the Department of Climate Change, where issues around climate impacts, conflict sensitivity, peacebuilding and financing are being integrated into a unified national direction.

The process, she said, is being designed to align with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the country’s long-term net-zero emissions target for 2060.

While acknowledging ongoing institutional efforts, she stressed that relevant agencies are actively working across different levels, noting that NiMet’s seasonal rainfall predictions and other climate advisories remain important tools for planning and preparedness.

The report further shows that climate change impacts such as flooding, drought and resource scarcity continue to deepen vulnerability across communities, with persons with disabilities facing additional barriers in accessing early warning systems, evacuation support and recovery services.

It notes that while inclusion is already reflected in Nigeria’s climate policy design, ensuring that such frameworks translate into accessible information and practical support at grassroots level remains essential for effective climate resilience.

The document also links climate risks with conflict dynamics, stressing that competition over land and water resources continues to heighten tensions in some regions, making conflict-sensitive adaptation planning a critical part of Nigeria’s climate response strategy.

It recommends stronger coordination between climate, humanitarian and peacebuilding institutions to ensure that vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, are not excluded from disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts.

Overall, the findings position Nigeria’s climate adaptation framework as one that already includes disability considerations at policy level, while reinforcing the importance of awareness and effective implementation to ensure that inclusion is fully felt at community level.