The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has said Nigeria’s extensive coastline, which stretches over 830 kilometres along the Atlantic Ocean, is vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution. “These challenges are already causing significant socio-economic disruptions in the Niger Delta, with ocean encroachment and rising sea levels threatening homes and farmlands,” private sector co-chair of the NESG’s Sustainability Policy Commission, steering committee, Osagie Okunbor said.
He made the remarks during at a pre-30th Nigerian Economic Summit (#NES30) webinar on the 6th of August, 2024, themed “Building Climate Resilience in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Approach.”
Okunbor also emphasised the compounded fragility risks in northern Nigeria, where desertification is accelerating environmental degradation and threatening livelihoods. Similarly, in the southeast, erosion is damaging road infrastructure and threatening food security, with farmlands being ravaged by gully complexes.
He stressed the need for comprehensive infrastructure development, ecosystem management, community engagement, and international cooperation to ensure Nigeria’s sustainable development and climate security.
Representing the minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the assistant director of monitoring and evaluation at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Simon Ezinkwo, also said Nigeria faces significant threats from climate change, which adversely impacts both the economy and the environment.
Ezinkwo stressed that addressing the challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including the development of climate-smart and resilient infrastructure. He highlighted the importance of collective action in building a sustainable future and underscored the need for robust environmental policies, regulations, and sustainable land management practices to address the root causes of climate vulnerability.
I’m his intervention, deputy director of environment and regional development at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Zainab Pisagih emphasised the need for green budgeting and the allocation of adequate resources for climate-related activities.
Also, chief resilience officer and CEO of the Lagos Resilience Office, Dr. Folayinka Dania detailed how Lagos, with an estimated population of 26 million, is addressing climate vulnerabilities such as sea level rise, extreme heat, and pollution.
She highlighted the state’s comprehensive climate adaptation and resilience plan, which includes building resilient communities and infrastructure.
CEO of Arctic Infrastructure, Lookman Oshodi
identified the significant scale of the country’s climate risks, including trans-boundary flooding, sea level rise, and urban pollution. He emphasised the importance of public and private sector collaboration in addressing these issues and highlighted Nigeria’s integrated infrastructure master plan and energy transition plan.
According to the United Nations Africa Renewal, in 2022, Nigeria experienced devastating floods that claimed the lives of at least 662 people, injured 3,174 individuals, displaced approximately 2.5 million people, and destroyed around 200,000 homes. The United Nations Africa Renewal reports that these alarming events underscore the urgent need for accelerated action to address Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate-related hazards.
CEO of GreenHub Africa Foundation, Henry Bassey in a panel discussion called for collaboration across private, public, and civil society sectors. He emphasised that climate resilience starts with proper education on climate-related issues and strategic alliances between all stakeholders across private/public sectors and civil society to address climate change issues.
The 30th Nigerian Economic Summit, themed “Collaborative Action for Growth, Competitiveness, and Stability,” is scheduled for October 14th to 16th, 2024, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. The summit aims to harness diverse perspectives and collective expertise to address common challenges, create shared opportunities, and ensure sustainable economic progress for all Africans.
