Demand 11
Climate Governance
Lack of political will to drive Nigeria’s transition into a low-carbon economy, inadequate governance structures to implement adaptation frameworks, and misalignment of economic and social priorities are many of the governance issues preventing Nigeria from instituting ambitious climate adaptation and resilience programs that will transform how we respond to climate risks and security.³⁵
While the federal government has made efforts to develop agencies and programs such as the Department of Climate Change (DCC), National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), passed the Climate Change Act, 2021 and signed international treaties like the Paris Agreement — this is hardly enough to protect our very fragile ecosystem, revive hydrocarbon polluted lands of the Niger Delta, and restore biodiversity in rainforests that are being cut down illegally.
To scale progressive change from an environmental, social and economic perspective, a new governance system must emerge that subscribes to the urgency of the climate crisis — one that caters for the long-term prosperity of its people.
Call to Action
Propose integrated and participative governance, the involvement of all sectors as well as of civil society, in consultation and accountability processes recognizing the value of their experiences, and perspectives, and encouraging socio-environmental paradigm shift while preparing the urban and rural areas for effective risk response.
Create an enabling environment for youth to engage in climate action through environmental organisations, community programs and climate negotiations, by providing adequate and inclusive capacity-building and mentorship from a young age while engaging with decision-makers and scientific experts; and removing barriers to youth active participation by institutionalising the role of youth in the climate-decision-making processes.
Prioritise participation and inclusion of non-state actors in government-related activities and initiatives to bridge the access, capacity and coordination gaps between government and civil society organisations. This should include programs aimed to train young people to assist in documenting the impacts of resource exploration and climate change and creating a climate risk disaster register/index for proper documentation of environmental disasters and degradation in Nigeria.
Remove all legal, institutional, and regulatory barriers to technology transfer, particularly digital technologies that will aid Nigeria's energy transition, increase incentives and encourage youth access.
Enhance transparency and accountability tools to block fiscal leakages, and discourage corruption, misappropriation and abuse of climate finance resources.
Governments at all levels should institute policies that put people before profits, and impacted communities should be put in perspective before adopting any policy that has the potential of impacting them. This includes the drive by IOCs to divest without compensation and remediation being checked and halted.
Create firm legal provisions on liability for pre-divestment ecological destructions, and community participation in asset sales and divestment, and recognise the Rights of Nature in the legal system, and criminalise ecocide.
Sub-national governments and State Ministries of Environment should establish departments or focal points responsible for addressing climate change and all related issues, and should fund and resource institutions, programs, and initiatives aimed at providing solutions to the climate crisis.
Align adaptation and resilience programs with social and development needs taking into account the complexity of Nigeria’s political economy and diversity to ensure no one is left behind.
Provide opportunities for consensus and alliance building between communities, state, non-state actors and international philanthropic bodies.